Master Bedroom makeover / $100 Room Challenge / Week 1

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The $100 Room Challenge is back! Find out what I have planned for my small master bedroom makeover.

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Here we are, it's September already! Are you ready for another $100 Room Challenge?

For those who are new here, the $100 Room Challenge is a challenge initiated by Erin from Lemons, Lavender and Laundry where bloggers who participate has to complete the renovation of a room, in 1 month for a maximum of $100.

This is my fourth time in the $100 Room Challenge. You can see what I did the previous times I participated:

Note here that $100 is written with a dollar sign in front of the 100. 😛 Which means that for me, the poor Canadian girl, it will be 130 $ CAD!! After a comparison with my American friends, it's only fair, don't you think?

The initial plan

If you've followed my Instagram account this summer (if not, you should!), I was thinking of making over the staircase that leads to the basement. I had a lot planned that included stencilling a wall. Then it hit me: that wall is sooo high! Is it a great idea to stencil for the first time that high up? How am I going to get up there safely considering that I'm not really great with hights?

Needless to say, I work really well under pressure because I suddenly had the greatest ideas for my bedroom, using the same stencil! That was, two weeks ago! lol

Master Bedroom Makeover

We own a small house. It only has a ground floor and a basement. While the kid's bedrooms are on the ground floor, ours is in the basement, right next to the family room that got the $100 Room Challenge last time! I like to call it the parent's lair. 😉

Of course, my bedroom is teal! 😀 with a touch of yellow (kind of like my blog!!!).

I made these paintings myself and they are inspired by the houses by the water in Bergen, Norway. One day, I'll have the tutorial to share with you! 😉

Here's the plan of the Master Bedroom as of today:

I have a small walk-in closet (I would call it more a "step-in" closet cause that's the only thing I can do in it! And that's when there are not a thousand things on the floor!) My husband has the small closet. You can see by the clothes on the dresser that we're missing a bit of space!! Isn't it always like that?

And how about these doors?

Who thinks of installing clear glass french doors for a bedroom? Not someone who has kids for sure! I definitely want to do something about that!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

The plan for the Master Bedroom Makeover

I've been missing colour in my life lately. While I'm almost always dressed in colours and my car is a flashy blue, I tend to stay really neutral when decorating. I'm kind of scared to make a mistake (do you relate?). So this time, I'm challenging myself to bring more colour in this room! It all started with this rug :

I bought it on special at a local store but you can find similar ones here, here or here.

No, it will not count in the budget of the challenge because I bought it when I thought I was doing the staircase for this challenge. You know, when you've been watching something for a long time and then it comes on special? I just had to jump on it! 😉

So, apart from bringing more colours in this room, I'd like to turn it around like that:

I feel it's going to give a nice focal point when we come in and if the doors are left open.

So now it looks like that:

And my plan is to make it look like that:

What a difference don't you think?

In details, I plan on:

Painting the blinds white (they are brown);
Hanging the curtains that I had in the previous house and that I never hung;
Stencilling the wall of the window with this awesome stencil;
Changing the light fixture (I have a great DIY in mind!);
Make the windows of the french doors opaque or translucent.

If I add the stencil to my sketch, it looks like that:

Isn't that exciting?

If I have the budget and time, I might add:

Spraypainting the furniture's hardware;
Give a makeover to the table lamps
Add throw pillows of different accent colours.

So in your opinion, what accent colour should I add to my Master Bedroom Makeover?

If you want to skip ahead, just follow these links:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4: Reveal

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How to remove sticky bumpers from cabinet doors

Sometimes, transparent cabinet bumpers melt. Discover a simple trick to remove sticky bumpers from cabinet doors.

I had a problem lately. In fact, like a lot of things around here, I've had this problem for a while!

You know, the transparent bumpers that are often on cabinet doors? Mine had "melted" and had become a kind of nasty gum. Yuck!

Can you imagine the sticky noise at the opening of the cabinets ... ahhhhh, it made me crazy !!

I tried all kinds of stuff and products to remove this disgusting glue. It did not always work very well. I finally found the most effective solution.

Let's see what it is! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Required materials and tools

What it takes to remove sticky bumpers from cabinet doors

First, remove the excess residues with a scraper (Yuck, just looking at this picture, I can't stand it!!! Can I be cured? Haha)

Scraping the sticky bumpers from the cabinet

Spray my magic trick: "Goo Gone" and let act a few minutes (take that time to scrape the rest of the cabinet doors!)

Finally, simply scrub with a paper towel. You can also apply the product to the paper towel.

There you go:

Cabinet is clean. The sticky bumpers have been removed

Oufff, I feel waaaay better !!! 😉

In any case, it works much better than anything else I tried (including peanut butter!)

Make sure to clean with soap or other product to remove oil residue before gluing new bumpers.

How about you, is there anything that disgusts you as this goo does to me? Leave me a comment, maybe we can start a therapy together! haha

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How to make an outdoor privacy screen

[wc_box color="inverse" text_align="center" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" class=""]An outdoor privacy screen is often essential when living in the city, where neighbours are much closer than we would like! You can see how I solved this problem by creating an adjustable privacy screen for my balcony.[/wc_box]

It's so pleasant, once the nice weather is here, to take meals outside or simply sit down with a good book on the terrace. In my case, it is often my laptop that follows me on the patio. I take care of my blog while getting some fresh air! Just admit that I look comfortable despite the white plastic chairs!

I love this patio with its roof that allows us to stay there, no matter the temperature. Unfortunately, it has a big flaw: it lacks a little privacy! The patio of the neighbours is exactly next to ours.

This sketch shows you the proximity to our neighbours. Note that we do not usually say hello like this! 😉

How to make an outdoor privacy screen

I looked for all kinds of solutions to make a privacy screen without investing a fortune. I also wanted something that would not completely block the sun.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

I finally found this hardware kit and I immediately knew it was what I needed. This is a system that allows you to make louvres yourself.

With each kit, you can make louvres up to 48" high (11 panels) per any desired width. Since my balcony is 12 feet long, I used a total of 3 kits. I could have used only 2, but I wanted to have more flexibility on the one I could close and leave open.

Required materials

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Hardware kit (I used 3)
Treated wooden fence boards (1 x 6)
3 - 4 x 4 treated wood
Screw for treated wood
Miter saw

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As the balcony was already green-gray (not my choice!) I chose green treated wood. And since we have to wait 2 years before painting it, I thought it would fit with the rest till then!

How to make the outdoor privacy screen

The hardware kit is relatively simple to install and the instructions are clear. It took longer to do the lower part of the patio because we didn't have any instructions for that! 😛

We first installed the 4 "x 4" by screwing them in the top and the bottom.

Then, we recycled the handrail that was there and we used it as a separation between the top and the bottom, making sure to leave 48" in the part where the louvres will be located.

The balusters were also recycled as a mean for fixing and the lower part of the privacy screen.

Finally, we installed the louvres according to the instructions.

And now, in real life:

From the inside:

The recycled handrail and balusters are not the same colour as the rest. I'll fix all this when I'll paint everything!

Since the louvres are adjustable, it allows us to control the amount of light that comes in, especially at the end of the day, as in this photo.

In addition, the louvres cut the wind that often comes from this side and at the end of the day not to mention the rain that always comes from that side too! Having 3 sections also offers way more flexibility.

This simple privacy screen has increased the use of our patio exponentially. Now, I dream of adding a bench right there...

Do you visualize the same thing? ... to be continued maybe this summer! 😉

UPDATE: I made it! The post and full tutorial on how to make it will be coming soon! Here's a little peak 😊

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How to make an easy privacy screen for you patio. You'll have the full tutorial step by step for this DIY so you can block the view from your neighbors. It's adjustable so you decide when to open or close it. #patio #outdoor #deck

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How to hide an electrical panel in an elegant way

How to hide an electrical panel seems an easy enough task, but the usual solutions are not always the most creative and aesthetic ones. See how I hid the one that was located directly next to the television.

It was in 2010 and at that time, we were living in a 1977 bungalow. The basement was a collection of small rooms that we practically did not use. These spaces were useless in particular because they were too small and badly needed an update.

Now, you're going to tell me, "Why are you talking about this renovation when it was so long ago?" Well for two reasons. The first, because it's one of the achievements I'm very proud of. Second, because I wanted to talk to you about my outdoor patio, but it's snowing and ice-cold right now! Again!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Before

I searched in my photos and found (thank you Lightroom!!) a photo dating from 2009. I must admit that it is almost embarrassing! The room you see there was a room with built-in furniture. Can you guess where the electrical panel is?

And yes, you are right. Might as well put a big flashing arrow! Hey, look at the electrical panel !!!

The room before with a flashing arrow pointing at the electrical panel

The plan

Since we didn't use this room, we decided to open it with the next mini-living room and with the room you see below to create a home theatre.

An X indicates the wall that will be demolished and an arrow shows the electrical panel

My problem now was that the electrical panel was on the only remaining wall that was big enough to install the TV. (Admit that this room was pretty awful at that time!!)

The before picture, just before demolition

So I tried to find a way to hide the electrical panel while avoiding to draw attention to it (goodbye louvres!).

Since I also needed to run home theatre wiring (speakers and TV), I decided that the best solution would be to double the wall in 2" x 3".

Materials

2" x 3" studs
Drywall
5/16 "x 1-1 / 16" x 8 'Molding
Masonite panel
plastic rails

How to hide an electrical panel

First, the wall was doubled in 2 "x 3". This allowed us to run the wires for the home theatre, to offer good support to install the television and to hide the electrical panel.

The installation of the 2" x 3" before closing with drywal

Second, we obviously passed all the wires before closing the wall. 😉

The wall is covered with drywall except the electrical panel

Finally, the majority of the wall was made of traditional drywall, except for the square of the electrical panel that is a masonite panel. The two white lines you see below are the rails that allow the masonite panel to slide.

The mouldings were installed to create a board and battens effect and hide the rails. I painted the wall before installing the mouldings (which were also painted before being installed). The moulding serves as a handle to pull the panel to the right.

And this is the final result. Gone the arrow that flashes and indicates where the electrical panel is hiding!!! 😉

This installation hides the electrical panel and still gives easy and quick access to it.

Sliding panel open to show the electrical panel

I have already been asked if I was worried about hiding an electrical panel in case of fire. I personally believe firefighters usually know where they are. Anyway, by taking a look outside, we can immediately know where it is located. It's up to you to know if you want to take the risk.

2 for 1

The fact that the electrical panel was at this location and required me to double the wall also allowed me to solve the problem of the home theatre wiring. Sometimes, the stars align themselves. I always tell myself that there is no problem, just solutions! You just have to look for them a bit, but you always end up finding them!

What a difference with the before pictures don't you think?

Today

I was sad to move and leave this room that I worked so hard for. But last January, I updated my family room in the new house and it made me really happy. You should go take a look at what I did behind the TV.

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How to make a wreath with terracotta pots

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Learn how to make a wreath with terracotta pots. It's easy to make and fast. There is no glue that holds the wreath together so you can modify it with the seasons.

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I don't know about you, but spring here doesn't want to arrive. I don't remember seeing so much snow in April. Usually, the last storm is on St. Patrick's Day, in mid-March, but not this year! Schools were even closed last week! It makes me wonder if mother nature is angry with us !!!

Anyhow, I still decided to make a new wreath with terracotta pots using the same grapevine base. I change my wreath each spring and I'm sure this one will also work for summer! Last year, around the same time, I made this spring wreath, which I then chaged for $1 once fall came.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

What I used to make a wreath with terracotta pots

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3 terracotta mini pots
Artificial flowers
Artificial floral moss
Jute Twine
Grapevine wreath
Cutting pliers
Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

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How to make the wreath

First, the terracotta pots

I cut the artificial flowers about the same height than the terracotta pots. I used cutting pliers since artificial flowers often have metal stems.

Then I placed the artificial moss at the bottom of the pot. I added the flowers one by one and filled all the extra spaces with moss by pressing firmly.

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To decorate the pots, I glued jute twine all around.

Ideally, I should have done this step before putting the flowers in the pots !! : P

Every project has its lesson! At least you can avoid this small mistake!

I finished tying the string by making a bow.

Second, assemble the wreath

Just like last year's spring wreath (by the way, these are the same flowers!), I simply inserted the stems through the vines.

Looking beneath the wreath, we can see the stems that go around.

As I like to change the look of my wreath, I didn't use glue. I took another piece of jute string, made two knots on the pot and finally tied it to the vines.

And finally, the result!

If you're wondering about my door hook, you can see this article that shows you how I did it.

Also, if you find that the flowers don't fit tightly enough in the pots, you can still add foam blocks. As far as I'm concerned, I didn't find it necessary since my wreath did withstand a snowstorm without losing anything!

Speaking of snow, if you're insightful, you've noticed the reflection in the door ... So I'll be honest with you and show you the real view of the front of my yellow house. : '(

And yes, it's April 9th ... crazy! Where are you spring? I'm impatient to see you!!! Hoping that hanging this wreath helps a little.

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DIY magnets and magnetic gaming time chart

Learn how to make DIY magnets and magnetic gaming time chart that no one can guess it's a cookie sheet. It will even be a nice wall art for a boy's room!

In the last post, I made a frame for the magnetic gaming time chart that I want to use to manage my son's video game time. Since I used a cookie sheet, there was no way I was hanging it on my wall without modifications! 😉

Now, for the final step of the project: the bottom of the cookie sheet and the DIY magnets.

Also, if you want to see how I intend to use the magnetic chart, refer to this post that gives you tips on how to manage video game time. This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

How to cover the bottom of the magnetic gaming time chart

Required materials

Cookie Sheet
Mod Podge (I used the matte version)
Brush
Mat photo paper
Colour printer

Each blue line represents a day of the week and the dotted lines divide the day into three: morning, afternoon and night. Do you like the Pikachu I drew to stay in the theme? 😁 You can easily make all of it in a software like Word.

Then, I printed the result on two letter size matte photo papers.

magnetic gaming time chart free printable image

Then, cut one of the two printed sheets of paper so the drawing fits perfectly.

placement of the printable image in the cookie sheet to make the magnetic gaming time chart

Second, I spread Mod Podge directly on the cookie sheet. I placed the first printed sheet trying to remove as many bubbles as possible.

Adding Mod Podge to the cookie sheet to make the magnetic gaming time chart

I finally added Mod Podge over it. You'll see the sheet of paper becoming wet and wrinkles begin to appear. You can try to remove them as much as possible by adding Mod Podge and pressing with your fingers. But be aware that it will never be perfectly smooth.

Adding Mod Podge over the printable image to make the magnetic gaming time chart

DIY Magnets for the magnetic gaming time chart

Required material

Plastic caps (from recycled plastic water bottles)
Magnets (a bit smaller than the plastic caps)
Printer
Mat photo paper or scrapbooking paper
Art Resin Epoxy Resin or Mod Podge
Heat-it Craft Tool (or Embosser)
Free printable and/or cut file (subscribe below to access it)

Once again, I made a printable file to help you. I have two versions available depending on whether you have a Cricut (or any other cutting machine) or only a printer.

For my part, I printed on a white cardstock paper and added stamped ink on it to give it a little texture.

Sheet printed for the magnets to make the magnetic gaming time chart

Then, I asked my daughter to colour it.

Coloring the printed paper for the magnets to make the magnetic gaming time chart

Assembling the magnets

First, I started by dropping the magnets at the bottom of the plastic bottle caps. Many wondered on Instagram and Facebook what I was doing when they saw that picture! hihi

The bottle caps and magnets layout in a grid to make the magnetic gaming time chart

Second, I added the paper circles on top.

Inserting the paper in the bottle caps to make the magnets for the magnetic gaming time chart

Then, I mixed the ArtResin according to the manufacturer's instructions. Finally, I poured it into the water bottle caps taking care not to overflow them and spill the ArtResin.

Uh...

Without spilling?

Not really!!! I made a mess!

The mess on my table when making the magnets with resin for the magnetic gaming time chart

That's why it's important to wear gloves and to protect your work surface with parchment paper or wax paper!

Peeling resin from the bottle caps that are to be magnets for the magnetic gaming time chart

But even if there was resin on the caps, because of the overflow, it was easy to remove.

Is it just me who looooves scratching and pulling the glue in thin layers like that? 😁

In the manufacturer's instructions, they talk about using a torch to remove the bubbles in the resin. Since the caps are plastic, I thought it was not a very good idea! What do you think? haha

So I used my Heat-it craft tool to remove the bubbles. It is very helpful since it heats up without making too much wind.

And now, 24 hours later, it's dry and I have beautiful custom magnets (note that the manufacturer recommends 72 hours to ensure that it is completely dry).

If you do not want to invest in resin ...

I did the test by applying the same technic but with Mod Podge instead of resin. I must say that it is relatively good considering the difference in price! The few disadvantages are that the drying took 1 week (and still, it was a little flexible after a week) and it is a bit less transparent than the resin.

How to hang the magnetic gaming time chart

To install the magnetic gaming time chart on the wall, I used these picture hooks. I was surprised by how strong they were. And it is also supposed to be easy to remove, without causing damage to your walls.

Magnetic gaming time chart hanging on a blue wall

We are finally ready to use the magnets and the magnetic gaming time chart to manage the video game time. I just have to distribute the magnets in the appropriate places (yellow for watching videos and blue for video games). When time is used, my son can simply put the magnets in the reserve (on the right). For more information on gaming time management, you can refer to this post.

Just a reminder that you can see how I made the Pikachu frame by following this link. The difference between with and without a frame says it all! Which one do you prefer? 😉

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Pssst: I simply used the E6000 glue (industrial type) to glue the frame to the cookie sheet et it holds like a charm!

To get access to this file and a lot more, just fill out the form below.

This magnetic gaming time chart has been a lifesaver for me. I hope it inspires you to make one and helps you manage your kid's video game time or even simply screen time!

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DIY Frame for a cookie sheet magnetic board

We've seen plenty of magnetic boards made with a cookie sheet. But what if you don't want to hang that on your wall? Well, I offer you a simple tutorial to show you how to make a beautiful frame to hide the cookie sheet. It's easy and very affordable!

In the previous post, I told you that I would make a craft project to help manage my son's video game time. My idea is to make a magnetic board with magnets that would count the number of "15 minutes" available. To do this, I started by buying a cookie sheet at the Dollar store as we see so often on Pinterest. But did you really think I was going to hang a cookie sheet on a wall?

There's no way I'll hang a cookie sheet on a wall in my home!

Make a frame for a cookie sheet

I didn't want to use wood and have to shovel my way to my shed again (Oh yes, there is still snow and it is rather frozen these days!!!)

So I used a proven technique in my architectural training when I had to make models: foam board and a hot glue gun!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

What you need

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Foam board sheet (mine was 20 "x 30")
Utility knife
Spare blades for utility knife(the blade needs to be sharpened to cut foam boards)
Cutting mat
Metal ruler
Hot glue gun
Hot glue sticks
Photocopies of a comic book or manga
Mod Podge (I use the "matte" version)
Brush

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How to make the frame for a cookie sheet

To begin, take the inside dimensions of the cookie sheet. I strongly suggest taking the dimensions a little more inward than too close to the edge.

Decide the frame width you want to have. Here, I chose to make a 2-1 / 2 " wide frame. On the foam board, draw the frame like this:

You can see here that I already used this panel for another project! 😉

Remember to always measure and mark 3 times to create a straight line:

Using a utility knife and cutting mat, cut out the frame.

*** Tips for cutting a foam board: Make sure you have a sharp blade. With the metal ruler, cut a first time without weighing too much to only cut the top layer. Then pass a second time to cut the rest of the thickness.

Once the frame is cut, place it on top of the cookie sheet. Measure the distance between the surface and the underside of the frame and cut strips of this width. Do the same thing for the inside of the frame.

It's best to leave the strips a little longer than the sides of the frame to allow for adjustments.

Use the hot glue gun and assemble the frame by assembling the corners this way and cutting the strips one at a time:

Here's what it looks like once everything is assembled! You'll be ready to test if it fits nicely on the cookie sheet.

Ishhhhhhhh !!! When I suggested above not to take the internal dimensions of the cookie sheet too close to the edge, it's because I made this exact mistake. As the inner corners of the cookie sheet are rounded, I was not able to insert the frame. If it ever happens to you, just do as I did and take off the inner edges and simply glue them this way instead!

Decorate the frame

I chose Pikachu and Pokemon to decorate the frame, but you could take any paper. I photocopied a Pokemon manga that my son had and the children coloured the Pikachu in yellow with a wooden pencil to give a touch of colour. If you don't have a book at home, you can rent it from the library or do an internet search and print pages.

To decorate the frame, just brush the Mod Podge, apply the paper and add more Mod Podge over it. Turn the frame upside down and cut out any excess of paper. Fold the rest of the paper in and glue it well with Mod Podge.

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Once everything was dry, I added some ink touches to give an aged effect.

You can see the difference without ink (left) and with ink (right).

And here is the frame on the cookie sheet.

Although there are many steps, the frame is easy to make and gives a so much better look to the cookie sheet!

In the next post

Next week, I will explain how I finalized the bottom of the cookie sheet and also how to made personalized magnets (a freebie will be coming just for NeliDesign's VIPs!!)

7 Spring Wreaths you can make in less than 15 minutes

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You'll find 7 spring wreaths that are easy to make and inexpensive. You won't have any reason not to make one yourself and brighten the entrance to your home.

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If you read my last post, you know how much I miss spring and that there is still way too much snow here!! I have not hung my spring wreath back on my door yet because if you remember, I changed it for Fall. So I intend to renew it a little bit and it should be fast and efficient as always. But that will be for another post!

Today, I have prepared a roundup of 7 wreaths that will allow you to bring a little spring to your home, all in less than 15 minutes.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Spring Wreath in 15 minutes

Foam base

Carrie at Lovely Etc's used a foam base and recycled one of her sweaters. Who doesn't like black, gray and white buffalo plaid fabric? !!

Credit: Lovely Etc

Rachael from This is Our Bliss used the same foam base, but for a completely different look. The polka dot ribbon is really pretty!

Credit: This is our Bliss

Base with an embroidery hoop

I love these minimalist wreaths. I will surely end up making one, it's too difficult to resist!

Meredith, from The Palette Muse, shows us how to easily attach the flowers to the embroidery hoop.

Credit: The Palette Muse

For her part, Melissa from Brown Dog Vintage went even more minimalist but so elegant!

Credit: Brown Dog Vintage

Grapevine base

This technique is the one I used. Here, Corinna from A Designer at Home and Her Boho Abode used the grapevine base and added faux succulents. Super easy and so fast! And of course, very pretty!

credit: A Designer at Home and Her Boho Abode

Maria from House by the Preserve has used so many flowers that you can't even see the grapevine wreath anymore. But the great thing about it is that it's done without glue. The tulips, which I adore, are simply inserted in the grapevine. A wreath that can be reused and a breathtaking result.

credit: House by the Preserve

I also created a spring wreath last year with a grapevine wreath as a base. Like, Maria, the flowers were not glued so I got to transform it when fall arrived. You can see all the details by clicking here.

Looking for something more challenging?

Well, I found a very original wreath, but it will take you much more than 15 minutes. But it will surely turn many heads! Les brindilles made this wreath using paper. Maybe it will be better to put this one on the inside of the door! 😉

How to hang your wreath

You can refer to this tutorial I made last year to add a rustic touch to a rather simple door hook.

Now, you have no reason not to run for materials to make one of these beautiful wreath. They are simple, fast and so beautiful. Perfect projects for a busy life!

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Click here to see which Link Party I participate.

How to make a stencil with freezer paper

Learn how to use freezer paper to make a stencil that allows you to paint on fabric virtually without any smudges.

My daughter is part of a Hip Hop competition dance group called Redlips. Since the budget to buy costumes was limited (and because I'm always up for a little DIY !!) I offered to add red lips on their white shirts.

You will see, this technique is very easy to do and enable you to paint images on fabric, virtually without smudges.

On the other hand, if you are in Canada like me, the most difficult part to carry out this project will be to find freezer paper !! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Where to buy Freezer paper?

Well, I did the research for you and let me tell you it was not easy!

A simple solution, if you can wait a few days, is to get it from Amazon.ca. You'll find it by clicking here.

If you want a more express solution (because like me, you tend to be at the last minute and when you need something, it is RIGHT NOW that you want it !! 😉 ) you can find some at Canadian Tire.

But be careful, check availability on their website. In my case, only 1 store had some in my area. And I'm telling you, take note of the aisle number (it's really nice that their website allows this!) Because this paper is in the hunting department! And yes, I was really surprised!

Canadian Tire's freezer paper is more expensive, but you'll have 3 times more than Amazon's. It all depends on your needs. I can tell you that with 150 feet, I have some for an eternity !!

For this project, you'll need:

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Freezer paper
Iron and ironing board
Newspapers
Masking tape
Color Shot Fabric spray paint (I used the Red one and it took me 2 bottles to make the 12 shirts)
Cutting machine (like Silhouette or Cricut) or a cutting knife and mat.
Image to cut

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How to make the stencil

Cut the stencil

I'm lucky to have a Silhouette because I would not have ventured to make 12 shirts with a simple cutting knife !!! Yes, I had to make 12 stencils. I tried to see if I could reuse them, but they did not stick as well as I would have liked. And since it's for competitions, I wanted everything to be perfect.

First, cut a piece of freezer paper the width of the cutting mat. Install the glossy paper side up, taking care to remove the bubbles with an old card.

By putting the shiny side up, you'll have to reverse your design.

Once the paper is cut with the Silhouette, detach it gently.

Position the stencil

Next, to position the stencil made of freezer paper, you'll need to place the shiny side against the fabric. Press an iron at a low temperature (without steam). The paper will adhere gently to the fabric.

I then inserted cardboard inside the shirt. It is better to handle the stencil with care since it is not stuck permanently.

To prevent the cardboard from moving, I fixed it with a paper clip. Then I folded the shirt so that it was completely hidden under. It's optional, but I found it was a safe precaution !!

The shirt is folded with the stencil on top

Paint

After that, you need to take the time to tape the newspaper to the stencil.

I did a test before and I had simply laid some newspaper around the stencil. The paint got under the newspaper. I was so happy I had done a test first! See the test:

I applied two coats of paint following the instructions on the bottle. It's always exciting when the time comes to remove the stencil!

** Tip if you want to re-use the stencil: put parchment paper between your iron and the stencil, otherwise the paint will be transferred to your iron and you will gum it all !!

And here's the result for 12 shirts. It took me about a day (with a lot of help from the dancer!). But it was worth it!

I must admit that of the 12, they are not all perfect. I had some small smudges in some places.

But as they will not be scrutinized with a magnifying glass, it will still have a nice group effect!

The competitions begin next weekend. I can't wait to see them in their complete costume with their hair done! Goooooo Redlips!

PS: Don't miss any new freebies! Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources

Don't forget to Pin it for later!

Image for Pinterest saying "Freezer paper tutorial + free cut file"

How to make very long floating shelves

Making long floating shelves, compared to regular length ones, requires some extra knowledge. See all the steps to achieve them.[/wc_box]

It's in the $ 100 Room Challenge that I made these long floating shelves. It was my third participation in this challenge. If you want to see all the adventures I had this time renovating the family room, click on the following links:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

Long floating shelves

If you have already read some post on my website you probably know that I'm a big fan of Shanty 2 Chic. It's on their website that I found instructions on how to make these floating shelves.

But my shelves, in addition to being stuck between two walls, were not the same size. So I stubbornly did what I thought and followed more or less their instructions. And, once again, I learned several things I shouldn't do! Thanks to my husband for helping me, otherwise, I think I would still be trying to install them!!

The plan

It had to cost me as little as possible for the $100 Room Challenge. Therefore, the depth of the shelves was determined by the number of planks I was able to get into a 4 'x 8' plywood.

If you watch closely you'll say: Why 5 planks Natalie? For 2 shelves, you only need 4 (2 above and 2 below)?

Well, it's because my wall measures 9 '- 6" to complicate things 🙁

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Requires materials

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Aspen Plywood ½ "x 4 'x 8'
1 "x 4" x 10 'Knotty Pine plank
4 - 2 "x 3" x 8 ' plank
Screws #8 - 3"
2-1 / 2 " screws for Kreg Jig
Stain
Polycrylic mat varnish

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Tools required

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Countersink drill bits kit.
Kreg Jig (I have the K5 and I love it!)
Level
Drill
Mitre saw

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Steps to follow and not to follow!

Anchors

I cut 14 pieces of 7-3 /4" length in the 2 "x3". Then, I made 2 pocket holes with the Kreg jig on each piece at one end only.

To make sure it's solid, I found the studs in the wall and marked the long 2"x3". Then I drilled holes with a countersink drill bit so that the screws get in the studs. (With this picture, you understand that "I" is not me !!! 😉 )

That's when I should've installed IMMEDIATELY the small 7-¾" pieces! But my husband had to leave and since we had to be 2 in order to set it to level, we installed the 2 "x3" on the wall immediately.

What I learned is that screwing through pocket holes takes some strength. Strength that I would have had if I had been on the floor with the drill pointing down. But now, with the drill pointing to the wall and my feet on a stool, it was simply impossible. So I was trying to save time but still had to wait for my husband to return to help me. Frustrating !!! ?

You see the green pieces of tape? That's the only good shot I did on this project!? It showed me where the small boards were when it was time to nail the top and bottom.

The shelves

When buying the plywood, I immediately made the store cut 5 sheets of 9-1 /4" otherwise it would not have even entered the car!

I undertook to immediately attach a piece of plywood to the other piece of 8 feet to fit the length of my wall. BIG MISTAKE. Using pocket holes in ½" plywood doesn't work very well.

Even to fix the front, it would pass through from time to time. I ended up putting a few brackets like these.

Here are the shelves once assembled.

A few coats of stain and varnish later ...

The shelves were then fixed with a nail gun, taking care to nail in the 2"x3" I had previously marked with green tape.

What I should have done instead

I should have simply cut the pieces and not attempt to assemble them together before putting them on the wall. It would have been so much easier to nail them on the anchors on pieces at a time!

Lessons learned:

The walls are never fully levelled and it's almost impossible to get everything to fit perfectly! (If you knew how many times we went back to cut the planks!)
Do not try to skip steps to go faster, it never works!
The pocket holes in a ½ inch of material, it is not recommended. I will definitely buy a ¾" plywood next time.
Use a nail gun and fill the holes, it is totally doable even if you stain. (the girls from Shanty 2 Chic use this wood filler and I promise myself to buy and use it next time!)
Make construction during winter in Quebec, between two snowstorms, when your tools are in the shed = never again! ?

Remember to go take a look to see all the stages of the $100 Room Challenge

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

Especially the post about the making of this vintage map.

Click here to see which Link Party I participate.

If you don't want to miss any post, subscribe below:

PS: Please Pin it for later!

See the step by step tutorial on how to make very long floating shelves. They make a stunning decor above a television. They are simple and easy to make once you have these tips. #floatingshelves #livingroom

Long floating shelves | DIY | family room makeover | $100 Room Challenge | plywood | Stain | pocket hole | Kreg jig | Longues tablettes flottantes | contreplaqué | teinture #floatingshelves #homedecor #familyroom #DIY #fairesoimeme #tablettes #kregjig #decomaison #sallefamiliale

Free Pokemon Valentine Cootie Catcher printable

What can be better than Pokémon and jokes to get a boy interested in Valentine's day? Download this free Pokemon Valentine Cootie Catcher Printable.

My boy saw the Cootie Catcher I made with the cute pink animals (click here to see post) and decided it was too girly for him. So I made a Pokemon version of it with the same funny jokes.

Cootie Catcher | Valentine's day free printable | fun for kids | St-Valentin | Coin-coin à imprimer gratuit | Pokémon | Porygon | Slowbro | Lickitung | Clefable | Pink Pokemon rose | Les enfants s'amusent

Last year, the Pokemon Go game did a Valentine's special and pink Pokémon were encountered more frequently in the wild during that week. Will it be the same this year? Anyhow, it made me think to use pink Pokémons for the Cootie Catcher! 😉 What wouldn't we do to attract boys!

The one you see in the next picture is the "girl" version. You can see it here.

I worked really hard to find Valentine and love related jokes. Here are some of my favourites:

How can you tell the calendar is popular? It always has a lot of dates!
What do you call a super small valentine? A valen-tiny!
What do you call two birds in love? Tweethearts

So cute!

If you want to have fun with your kids, just print and download the Pokemon Valentine Cootie catcher file, it's free!

Other Pokemon stuff from NeliDesign

And if you have fans of Pokemon in your house, you'll want to check these other posts:

Don't forget to Pin and share!

Get this free Valentine Pokemon printable for kids. This cootie catcher, also called, paper fortune teller is loaded with Valentine's day jokes for fun. Get even your boy interested in Valentine's day with this simple diy craft. #cootiecatcher #papercraft #forkids #printable #freebie

Where to get it?

To have access to a high-quality version of this free printable and many more, just sign up to have access to Nelidesign's free resources library made especially for you busy people!

Plus, I have a Pokemon April's Fools day Cootie-Catcher! Subscribe to get all the Pokemon files!

Note when printing: Don't scale the image even if your printer says that some clipping will occur. It probably won't happen!

How to fold a cootie-catcher?

If you have doubts on how to fold a cootie-catcher, don't hesitate to watch this short video I made for you!

Other Pokemon Valentine items

Can you believe I also found these Pokemon items related to Valentine's Day? So cool!

Have fun and don't forget to catch'em all! 😜

Family room makeover Reveal / $100 Room Challenge

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It's time for the family room makeover reveal! Check out the result that I've been working on for the past month as part of the $100 Room Challenge.

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It's the 3rd time I participate in the $100 Room Challenge which consists of updating a room, for $100 USD (It will be 125 $ for me!!) in 1 month. The first time, I took on the bathroom and in September, it was the turn of my daughter's bedroom.

The family room

We can't say otherwise, this challenge hasn't gone as planned at all! But do you know what? I'm sooooo happy with the final result of my family room! You can visit the other weeks of the challenge by following these links:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 (you're here!)

Summary

Apart from cleaning the room, the plans for the family room makeover have changed enough over the weeks.

Week	My plans	What really happened
Week 1	Presentation of the room and the planned projects.	It started well, that's what I did !!!
Week 2	Pick-up the room	That was also done, but I didn't really have a choice if you have seen the pictures !!!
Week 3	Installing a floating shelf above the fireplace.	This project has been completely eliminated, but I still made a beautiful vintage map to hang over the fireplace!
Week 4	Install shiplap on the wall behind the television and hang the television on the wall.	Finally, the shiplap would put too much focus on the television. I completely changed my plans and made pencil strokes to imitate shiplap. It was not a success!
Shiplap Take 2		Dissatisfied with the week 4, I made some changes!
Week 5	Reveal	Here we are!
Still to come.	Post on how to make the floating shelves.

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Makeover reveal

When I had the idea to paint the wall in dark gray, I knew immediately that I had to find a way to dress up the wall. And, since my house is always in need of more storage, I though of making floating shelves.

The idea was great, but I didn't think it would be that difficult and take that much time. Since the shelves were stuck between two walls, I had to make very precise cuts ...

I'll talk to you soon about it, in a post dedicated solely to the making of the shelves and all that I have learned.

Can you also see the changes I made to the faux shiplap? What do you think? You can click this link to see exactly how I did it and what was my inspiration!

Before / After

Some before and after photos to be sure that you remember the mess that was there before... (insert here ashamed smiley !!)

Oufff, now I can breathe!

For the fireplace, the vintage framed map really adds a nice finishing touch.

$100 Room Challenge, family room makeover, budget decor, DIY, tutorial, home decor, rénovations, mise à jour salle familiale, budget, économique, défi, déco maison

Family room makeover | $100 Room Challenge | faux shiplap | pencil | DIY floating shelves | cinema | organization | television | wall | paint color | fireplace | Vintage map | Distress map | carte géographique vintage | couleur de peinture derrière télévision | mur télévision | foyer | décoration | tablettes flottantes | cinéma-maison

These next photos really demonstrate how much difference it makes:

I have a sigh of satisfaction when I look at the last two pictures !!

The opposite side has not changed much. One day I would like to add a rug and curtains. It would give a more cozy atmosphere.

But for now, you can see in there the deer throw pillow that I sell in my Etsy shop.

By following this link you'll also see how to make this metal box.

And do you remember this mini rustic cork bulletin board?

Budget

For the budget, I have exceeded it by $2 because I had to buy a pack of shorter screws at the last minute! You'll know more in the next post on how I made the floating shelves.

Cost recap:

	Total $USD	Total $CAD
Framed vintage map (Week 3)	$9.26	11,56 $
Paint 875 ml (Week 4)	$15.59	19,49 $
Shelves	$92.71	115,89 $
Grand total	$101.98	127,47 $

Thanks for following this challenge and thanks to Erin, from Lemons, Lavender and Laundry who started this awesome challenge and had the idea of letting other people participate with her. It's become a great community of bloggers and I'm really happy to be part of it!

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 (you're here!)

Ok, now! I leave you to it and I'll go take a break looking at this wonderful view with the satisfaction of all the work done 😉

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Don't miss any new freebies. Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources!

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Don't forget to Pin it for later!

Click here to see which Link Party I participate.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Now, let's see the final result of the other participants!

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A better technic to make pencil faux shiplap

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Drawing lines to make pencil faux shiplap doesn't give you the best results. Come and see what technic I found to get a much nicer and realistic vintage look.

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You saw it last week, I was not at all satisfied with the pencil line I had drawn on my wall behind the TV to imitate shiplap.

If you missed the post about the $100 Room Challenge or want to learn more, follow these links:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

When I saw the faux shiplap made with planks by my friend Wendy At Lane and High, I knew I couldn't just leave it like that!

Have a look at her blog for all the steps to make it and see the result of her laundry room, like me, as part of the $100 Room Challenge ... wow!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

When I saw this photo by Sawdust Sisters I got hit with an idea.

It's beautiful, right?

I thought I could try to imitate that kind of joints between the boards on my wall. It was worth to try, I couldn't make it worse anyway!

So with a Faber Castell pen colour "cold gray" and a ruler, I traced the lines on the wall. I let it dry a few seconds and I rubbed my fingers to smudge the colour. When I was no longer able to extend the ink, I wet my fingers with a damp cloth. I also used it to wipe some lines when I was exaggerating a bit! Yes, I do that sometimes! 😛

I continued to rub until I was satisfied. When I was finished, I took the same gray pencil, but in a smaller size to trace a continuous line (without rubbing) giving a sense of depth.

There you go! Much better right? What do you think about it? It's already a much better vintage look. 🙂

Come see the final result in the reveal week of the $100 Room Challenge this Wednesday!

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

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Don't miss any new freebies. Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources!

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Don't forget to Pin it for later!

Click here to see which Link Party I participate.

The truth about faux shiplap / $100 Room Challenge / Week 4

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Want to install faux shiplap at no cost? You've seen people draw pencil lines on their wall and getting awesome results? Here's the truth.

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The original plan

In the first week of the $100 Room Challenge, I planned to cover the back wall with shiplap. I thought I'd find a clever solution between real shiplap and the faux shiplap made with plywood strips that can be seen everywhere lately.

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

The goal was to hang the TV on the wall and the shiplap would have provided a solid backing. Since my family room is in the basement it's a foundation wall so there's no stud behind the wall, but 1 "x 3" strips.

Once the room was picked-up (see week 2 ), I found a major obstacle for my project: winter!

Yes, we have a lot of snow here in Quebec. Even if the store cut the plywood into strips for me, I would have to cut it to the right length. In other words, I should have done a series of:

Take the measure,
Go up the stairs to the ground floor,
Put on my boots and coat,
Go outside (hoping the patio door is not frozen !!)
Go down from the balcony,
Get to the shed where is my table saw. (in my previously shuffled path),
Come back and
Install the shiplap hoping my measure was right!

And that, for EVERY strip !!! Uh NO!

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The modifications

Not abandoning, I began to wonder what I might do to enhance this space. And that's when it hit me!

I already have a beautiful stone fireplace. Do I really want to divert attention to the TV? Put a white shiplap wall behind the TV of it would only bring it out more.

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It is always important to ask yourself what you want the focal point of the room to be.

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So I did the opposite and decided to paint the top of the wall white and the bottom a dark gray. It's actually the Sico colour of the year 2018: Cast Iron (6173-83).

And voilà, the television is suddenly way less important!

I also decided to install two large shelves in the white part (coming next week) telling myself that I could put shiplap in this section. After a few calculations $$, I quickly came to the conclusion that I had to say goodbye to shiplap!

The truth about faux shiplap

If you do a quick search on Pinterest, you will see that some people have made faux shiplap at $0 simply by drawing pencil lines on the wall.

I thought, great! I'll try!!

Good thing I did not have a big surface to cover because it's the worst idea I've ever had!

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If, like me, you are just a bit perfectionist, don't even think of doing this!

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I started to draw with a pencil, telling myself that I could erase if I made a mistake. Obviously, only a little millimeter of offset and I wanted to erase! Big mistake! It made a "beautiful" smudge! Maybe it's just because my painting was freshly applied, I can't say for sure.

And I worked with a level, so for sure it also left traces, even if it only slightly rubbed the wall. 🙁

The final look is not at all live up to my expectations. I asked my 9-year-old son: "Look at the beautiful planks Mommy installed!" Even he saw it was traced lines. As they say here, it's beautiful from afar, but far from beautiful !!!

I thought to trace back with a black pencil, but I did not have the courage. I was afraid to do more damage to the wall. Maybe I'll try my luck once the shelves are installed ... to be continued!

** UPDATE: Check out my take 2 on faux pencil shiplap

Come back to see the reveal next week.

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Don't miss any new freebies. Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources!

Here are again all the post on this challenge

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

And don't forget to pin and share!

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

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Now let's see what the other participants are doing

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Vintage framed map / $100 Room Challenge / Week 3

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Learn how to make a vintage framed map. Full tutorial on how to distress it, make it look old and how to frame it for cheap.

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It is already the third week of the $100 Room Challenge and things are not quite going as planned. My tools are all in my shed. And while it is heated, snow and cold temperatures (it went to -40 degrees Celsius with the wind) complicates my work.

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

Although making a vintage map was not in my original plans, I had indeed the idea of installing a framed picture above the fireplace ( see week 1 )

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

I was looking for what I could hang there that would not be too expensive, but big enough. I remembered the DeLong's wine posters my husband had bought a long time ago. Yes, we checked and he bought them in 2008! Both posters are 24 "x 36", so not always easy to find a wall where to install them!

Seriously, my husband is a big fan of wine and these maps are really extraordinary. You should see the new posters in the form of a metro map. It's a great gift for a wine lover and it's done so that even beginners can understand the oh-so-many wine regions. And no honey, we're not buying another, sorry !!! 😉

How to give a vintage look to the map

Materials

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Parchment paper
Black coffee
Foam brush
Instant coffee
Stazon ink (I used brown ink)
Mod Podge in matte

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Now, Mr. De Long, I apologize in advance! I could have used your beautiful map directly without any intervention, but it was stored in the tube for so long that when I took it out, it ripped!!

As I often say, everything happens for a reason! So I thought to give it a vintage look!

How to do it

Place parchment paper on your work surface.

Add a few grains of instant coffee.

Place the map on top and add black coffee with the foam brush until the map is thoroughly wet.

Once it has softened, feel free to fold it and rip it some more!

You will see the instant coffee grains appear through the map. When you find that the grains look pretty, transfer the map on a clean surface to let it dry.

When it's dry, use the Stazon ink to add colour where the map is ripped and folded.

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Framing the map

Materials

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1 "x 2" pine moulding
Masonite sheet cut to the size of the map (in my case, 24 "x 36")
4 - 1" x 3" leftovers
Saman dye (I used black)
Saman waterbased varnished (I used a matte finish)
Nailer and finishing nails 1-1 / 4 "
Wood screws # 6, size ½ "
Paint the colour of the background map (I used colour Titanium Buff from Pebeo )
Kit for hanging pictures

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How to make the vintage framed map

Cut the moulding to make a frame around the masonite like this:

Dyed and varnished the mouldings (the pink blanket is completely optional! Haha)

Screw masonite to the 1 "x 3". These will be used to secure the frame. I could have used a plywood instead of masonite, but I wanted it to cost as little as possible !! You can also see Shanty 2 Chic's tutorial that inspired me and how they make a frame with plywood.

Also, drill a bigger hole for the head of the screw with a larger bit. Sometimes, I drilled too far ... oops! No worries, it won't show with the map on top!

It's after this mistake that my husband showed me his countersink drill bits kit. I could have made these holes in only one step without any mistake! Now I know! And so do you!!!

This way, the screws are flush with the masonite.

Here is what it looks like once the 1 "x 3" are screwed.

Then it is better to take the time to paint the outline of the masonite because the map shrinks slightly after drying.

How to install the map on the masonite

When the paint is dry, just glue the map with Mod Podge. I used an old credit card to spread the Mod Podge. This is really faster!

** Tip: place the map and start by gluing center. It's easier that way.

When the map becomes humid with Mod Podge, place it on the masonite and rub it to bring out the creases.

Then install the mouldings by nailing in the 1 "x 3".

And Voilà!

[ctt template="4" link="R826g" via="yes" ]Have you seen this DIY Vintage wine map?[/ctt]

I was originally supposed to install the map on the shelf of the fireplace, but it seems that this project will not be part of the $100 Room Challenge this time for all the reasons listed above.

So I installed eyelet screw and a cable in order to hang the frame.

If you noticed, in the beginning, I said my husband had bought two posters. It didn't take much longer to make a second vintage framed map!

But the second one will not part of the $100 Room Challenge. I have surprised my husband and installed this one in his office at work. 🙂 This is the Wine Grape Varietal Table. It's a table to see at a glance the various selections from wine and how they relate to each other.

Budget

The frame only cost me 11,58 $ to make. Amazing no?

	CAD$ (total)	USD (total)	Where
1x3 and 2'x4' masonite sheet	11,58 $	$9.26	Home Depot

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Still to come

The adventure continues! Will there be shiplap behind the television? To be continued next week!

To see the last weeks or jump farther:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

You can also follow me on Instagram for behind de scene and sneak peeks of what's coming up!

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Don't miss any new freebies. Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources!

If you like it, don't forget to Pin it!

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

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Now, let's see what the other participants have done this week:

[inlinkz_linkup id=760869 mode=1]

Family room makeover / $100 Room Challenge / Week 2

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Follow the makeover of my family room during January as part of another $100 Room Challenge. Only 1 month and $100 to makeover this room.

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Last week, I was showing you #reallife. So you've seen how messy my family room was.

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

Well, I'm happy to say that after about two intense days, it's (almost) all picked up! See for yourself:

Can you believe that this is the same room? I have a hard time to believe it myself!!

I don't think I need to tell you which is "before" and which is "after"!

And what about the view down the stairs? Yes, there was a foosball table beneath it all!!

And finally, I finished organizing the DVDs and Blu-rays:

Can you believe that there are about 150 DVDs and Blu-rays in the first 2 left rows alone? If you want to see how to accomplish this, follow the link to see the post on "How to save space while keeping your DVD and Blu-ray".

I breathe so much better now. It is as if a weight has been taken off my shoulders.

Now the fun begins: projects!

Refer to last week for a preview of what's coming up.

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

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Don't miss any new freebies. Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources!

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

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See what other participants are doing for this challenge!

[inlinkz_linkup id=759713 mode=1]

Family Room makeover / Another $100 Room Challenge begins

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Follow the makeover of my family room during January as part of another $100 Room Challenge. Only 1 month and $100 to makeover this room.

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This challenge was created in 2015 by Erin of Lemons, Lavender and Laundry. She thought of renovating one room, during one month for only $100. Then, exactly one year ago, Erin opened the challenge to other bloggers. It will be the third time that I participate in this challenge and really love it. I previously updated the bathroom and my daughter's bedroom.

100 room challenge, bathroom makeover, ladder, wall art, rope mirror, tutorial, diy, salle de bain, rénovation, échelle, miroir avec corde — [:en]Bathroom makeover - March 2017 [:fr]Salle de bain - Mars 2017

Tween girl bedroom makeover | $100 Room Challenge | DIY | Tutorial | Home Decor | desk area | reading nook | headboard | wall art | décor mural | coin lecture | bureau | tête de lit | instax mini | string art | DIY lamp — [:en]Tween bedroom makeover - september 2017 [:fr]Chambre de pré-ado - septembre 2017

From the first time I participated in the challenge, I decided to convert the $100 USD in Canadian currency since my purchases are made in Canada. I think it provides a better equivalence with the projects of American bloggers even though they thought I was very funny at first! 😛 My budget will then be 125 $ CAD 🙂

My family room

My family room is located in the basement. It's a large room at the bottom of the stairs. It includes a home theater, a fireplace, an office and a foosball table . The office area will not be included in the challenge. I will instead focus on the home theater and fireplace section. A girl must know when to stop and set limits!!!

So here, in all humility, is the state of the family room. 🙁 You will quickly deduce that the first stage of the challenge will be to pick-up, discard and tidy up !!!

We had some misadventures with defective appliances in the next room so this place soon became a major storage, or more like a dump !!

And the view when coming down the stairs ... oh boy!

Even the exterior of the house needs shovelling if I want to be able to see outside the windows by the end of February!

Family room makeover Goals

Since every post will be on Wednesday, this January will be a 5-week challenge! I'm in luck! Here's what I want to achieve:

Week 1: Introduce the room and the project (you are here);
Week 2: Bring order in the room (no choice there!!!);
Week 3: Installing a floating shelf above the fireplace; (** Update: there was a slight change of plan!!!)

Week 4: Mount the TV to the wall and install shiplap behind the TV. No, it will not be a Lauan panel cut into strips as seen everywhere. I'll tell you all about it in week 4! (**Update again!: This challenge didn't go as plan AT ALL!)

Week 5: Layout of the room and reveal time!

Well, have to go, I have lots of picking up to do !!!

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Don't miss any new freebies. Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources!

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

Check out the other projects for this month $100 Room Challenge!

[inlinkz_linkup id=757916 mode=1]

Tip to hang Christmas ornaments outside

Discover a convenient and easy way to hang Christmas ornaments and decorations outside without damaging your home with this complete tutorial.

It's been several years now that I'm thinking of hanging large Christmas ball ornaments on the front balcony of the house.

I hadn't found the ideal ornaments yet and it's when I was trying to find a plastic tube for the Splatoon Halloween costume (yes, yes!!!) that I found these.

The final look when you Hang Christmas ornaments

They came in a large plastic tube and therefore thought I had a two for one solution, but the tube was finally too flexible to use for the costume. But that's ok, I finally had the Christmas ornaments I wanted 😀.

Materials needed to hang Christmas ornaments

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

What I used

Large Christmas balls (mine are 6" in diameter)
Ribbon
Jute twine
And my secret weapon: paper clips!

How to hang Christmas ornaments

Tie about 3 feet of twine on each ornament. Make bows with ribbons and insert the twine inside the loop of the bow.

If you use the same ribbons, I strongly suggest you put yourself above the sink to handle them! This will avoid you to have to vacuum later!!!

Adding ribbons and jute twine when you Hang Christmas ornaments

Attach a paper clip to the other end of the twine. Insert the clip on the metal moulding holding the soffit (perforated aluminum sheets).

Making an X with the paper clips when you Hang Christmas ornaments

I added a second paper clip, forming an "X" shape to better secure it.

And that's all! We'll have to see if it's going to resist the first winter snow storm! I'll keep you posted!

UPDATE: yes it did resist all! And all winter long! 🙌

The final result when you Hang Christmas ornaments

It will be even more beautiful when the snow covers the branches on the railing!

I hope you found these useful!

Don't forget to pin it for later!

Hang Christmas ornaments without damaging your house

Complete Splatoon 2 Costume

[wc_box color="inverse" text_align="left" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" class=""]You can find out how to make a complete Splatoon 2 costume including the ink tank, the ink roller and even the tentacles (hair).[/wc_box]

Here we are, it's Halloween and the Splatoon 2 costume is complete!

Tutorials on making a Splatoon 2 costume

I started at the beginning of October and it was a sequence of trial and error. If you want to make a Splatoon 2 costume too, you can at least avoid the mistakes I made by following my full tutorials:

In this photo, you understand why I added screws to solidify the ink roller! 😉

For the rest of the clothes, he put on his winter underclothes and black shorts on top. In the evening, I made him wear his coat under the t-shirt and warmer black pants.

And we had to add makeup 🙂 He's just really too cute (sorry, my mom's heart can't resist!)

Finally, my little "inkling boy" from Splatoon 2 is ready to ink the whole city !! Watch out, where ever you are! :p

If you want details on the making of the Splatoon 2 costume, see the following posts:

In addition, by registering below, you will have access to all relevant templates to help you create the costume.

PS: Don't forget to Pin it for later!

DIY Splatoon costume for boys or girls. Ideal for a cosplay party or Halloween. Full tutorial and freebies on how to make everything : the ink tank, the hair (tentacles), ink roller and shirt #cosplay #costume #gamer

Splatoon 2 | Kid Halloween Costume | T-shirt | Cosplay | Inkling boy costume | blue | headphones | shirt | Ink tank | Ink roller | Paint roller | rouleau de peinture | DIY | Tutorial | garçon| Stencil | pochoir | gabarit gratuit | Free template

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

Splatoon 2 Costume / Making the Ink Roller

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If you've missed it, here's what I've done in the last weeks:

The ink roller

Here's a picture of our little guy with the ink roller in question:

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost for you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Here's what I used:

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Dowel ¾ " (approximately 8')
Pool noodle (blue in my case)
3 plumbing pipe elbow
Krylon Colormaster spray paint, true blue
Krylon Shimmer Metallic spray paint, silver
Purple acrylic paint (I used Deco Art Americana "Grape juice")
Cola bottle
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Black Duct tape
Screws

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How to do it:

I cut the dowels and the pool noodle to the length illustrated below.

Then I painted the dowels purple (except the 36"), the elbows silver and the bottle of Cola blue. If you remember, my little client asked for a character in blue, not green!

Assembly

I added hot glue inside the plastic elbows and inserted the dowels as shown.

To ensure good stability, I added 2 screws to the following places, making sure that it went through both the plastic and the dowel:

** Update: A photo session and an excited little boy was enough for me to add screws to ALL the dowels!!! 😉

I attached the bottle with black Duct tape and added some at the end of the pool noodle and on the extremity of the dowel to create a handle.

Voilà!

You can also check out the other pieces of the costume:

Still to come, the final result!

Splatoon 2 costume / Making the Ink Tank

In this tutorial, you'll find out how to easily make this Ink tank for a Splatoon 2 costume for cosplay or Halloween. Full tutorial and details on how to make it.

As you may have seen the last few weeks, I was focused on making the Splatoon costume asked by my son for Halloween.

I have a lot of ambition for this costume (as usual, I tend to do overdo it a bit!):

The ink tank

This week, I'm really struggled to make the reservoir. It was a succession of trial and error that resulted in taking way longer than I had planned for this project!

You can see what the ink tank looks like in Splatoon 2 (they are different to those in Splatoon 1! Got to be a geek all the way!)

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost for you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

You will need

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1 - 2 liter bottle of Cola
Chipboard flexible enough to be rolled.
Krylon spray paint Colormaster, in true blue
A stapler
Nylon straps of 1-inch
Release Buckle 1-inch

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My first idea was to use two Cola bottles inserted into one another to make the tube. But it really was not rigid enough. I thought about my little boy returning from school with an ink tank in pieces!

I finally used one bottle of cola that I cut to keep only the straight part. The second picture shows that I was preparing to paint a portion of the plastic cylinder which is finally not necessary with the solution that I opted for.

Splatoon 2 | Kid Halloween Costume | T-shirt | Cosplay | Inkling boy costume | blue | headphones | shirt | Ink tank | DIY | Tutorial | garçon| Stencil | pochoir | gabarit gratuit | Free template

I actually used Chipboard to make the bottom of the ink tank. I tried to make it so that the transparent cylinder fit into it very tightly.

To make sure the ink tank is solid, I stapled the chipboard several places and then I painted with the true blue spray paint.

I then attached two nylon straps at each end of the tube, again using staples.

The ink tank cover

Materials:

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White foam sheet (sold individually at Michael's)
A lid of a Ziploc Round container
2 clear round container smaller than the Ziploc cover and that can be inserted into one another
A small battery powered light (kind of the false candles sold à the Dollar Store)
Foam board
Black spray paint
DecoArt multi-surface acrylic paint in red (to make it sticks on the plastic container)
hot glue gun and glue sticks

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I determined the size needed for the white piece using the lids that go above and below. I then draw the two circles on the foam sheet and connected the two circles by a straight strip. I then cut with scissors.

On the left image, you can see the items that I had assembled before painting them. The right image shows the same one, but painted.

I then assembled the items in the following order with hot glue.

Note that the small light inside must remain accessible for turning it on and off. That's why I used lids that can be unscrewed.

The picture below is the foam board. I used my x-acto knife and made an incision of the exact size of the transparent cylinder without going through.

I inserted the cylinder in the foam board.

You can also see that I added a blue painted cardboard inside the transparent cylinder to give the impression that we see the level of paint.

I inserted the transparent cylinder in the blue ink tank. That's why it was not necessary to paint the bottle of cola!

The base of the ink tank

Materials:

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Corrugated fiberboard
Duct tape (color is not important, but if you have silver, you won't need to paint it)
Krylon spray paint - Metallic Shimmer in silver
hot glue gun and glue sticks

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I used a corrugated fiberboard because I wanted a certain thickness and wanted to be able to fold it around the cylinder. But, I didn't want to see the inside of the corrugated fiberboard (you know, the small waves) so I wrapped the corrugated fiberboard with Duck tape. My Duck tape was not the right color, so I painted it with silver spray paint. I also painted a circle of cardboard which will serve as the bottom of the ink tank.

Then I fixed everything with hot glue.

The gradation of the cylinder

Required materials

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Red paint
Paintbrush
Black Sharpie marker

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To avoid making unnecessary marks on the tank, I started by making a draft on paper. This allowed me to transfer the marks on the cylinder like this:

I traced the outline with a ruler and the Sharpie.

And then I simply colored inside.

Finally, I only had to paint the ink level and add a red triangle with the red paint.

[ctt template="1" link="ed3mH" via="yes" ]Check out this cool Ink tank for a Splatoon inkling Halloween Costume[/ctt]

Come back this week to see the weapon I will make to go with this costume. See also other items:

Remember to pin and share!

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

Splatoon 2 costume / Making the t-shirt

Halloween is coming soon and my son decided to dress in a Splatoon 2 character. Last week I worked hard to make the tentacles (hair). This week, it will be the t-shirt.

I have a lot of ambition for this costume (as usual, I tend to do a little too much!). My plans for this costume are:

The t-shirt

This week, the t-shirt! Here's our little character that serves as inspiration:

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost for you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Required materials for the Splatoon t-shirt

At the time, I used my Silhouette to cut a stencil. Now I would use my Cricut, download an image from the Internet (make sure you know about copyright on images here) and use HTV (Heat transfer vinyl). The result would have been way better!!!

But if you don't have a cutting machine, you might want to use the painting technique so here it is:

Painting

Once the stencil is cut, I used it to trace the outline with a white marking pencil.

I then applied the Pebeo Setacolor paint. I have to confess that I started this by using the Fabric medium (GAC-900) that had always worked well for me before. But, for a dark fabric, it was way too translucent. The Pebeo opaque Setacolor made a much better result.

I applied two coats for a more uniform colour. For the small letters at the bottom, I used the template as a stencil and then I went over with a small brush.

You can see in this photo that I had inserted a plastic box inside the shirt in case the painting would go through. I didn't want to also paint the back of the sweater !! And I was glad I did because the paint actually passed through!

Ironing

The Pebeo website recommends ironing the fabric upside down for 5 minutes at "Cotton" position without steam to fix the colour.

And It's done, a nice Splatoon 2 t-shirt!

You can view the other Splatoon 2 accessories I made by clicking the following links:

Don't forget to Pin it for later

Splatoon 2 Halloween Costume / Making the tentacles

For Halloween, I'm making a Splatoon 2 costume for my son. So here's the first part, making the tentacles hat.

After a month of taking care of my daughter's room for the $100 Room Challenge, I had a little boy waiting for me and saying "it's my turn Mom!"

I promised him that in October, we would work on his Halloween costume. I really like the idea he came up with. The kind of idea that makes my brain run at 100 miles an hour!

What is Splatoon 2

For the uninitiated, Splatoon 2 is a game available on a new console Nintendo Switch. The goal is to paint everything the colour of your team. We have neither the console nor the game, but my son dreams about it! So here's the major character on which we based the costume.

Splatoon 2 | Kid Halloween Costume | Cosplay | Inkling boy costume | blue | headphones | shirt | Ink tank | DIY | Tutorial | garçon

But, it had to be blue, it was a requirement of the little client! 😉

This post is about the making of the hat (or hair, that they call "tentacles" in the game), but in the following days there will be other posts about:

Splatoon tentacles hat

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Click here to see my full disclosure policy.

Here's what you'll need

½ meter of blue fleece
¼ meter of white fleece
black fleece leftover
Fibre Fill polyester
sewing thread
blue acrylic paint
Fabric painting Medium (GAC-900)
My free pattern (that you can find by subscribing below)

**UPDATE: I now have a free SVG cut file that you can use with your Cricut Maker. It will cut everything for you! Just use the "Fleece" setting and the Fabric wheel.

If you know me a little, you know that sewing is not in my field of expertise, but I can do it! So I was not going to come up with a pattern for the hat, it was beyond my skills. Thus I found this post that has a free pattern and a video (hallelujah!) To make a basic fleece hat.

If you don't feel comfortable sewing a Fleece hat, you can always find one here

You see this, my sewing machine is brown! That gives you an idea of how old it is! But it was given to me by my mother-in-law and it is plenty considering my talent in sewing!

Once the hat is done, I created a pattern to achieve the tentacles. Only the piece in the center of the "hair" is larger, the other 5 are identical.

The tentacle in the center

As this one was going to be "inflated" I decided to paint the blue points before sewing. I used the GAC-900 mixed with blue acrylic paint (1:1)

On the pattern, you'll find 3 points in the corners. You'll need to aligned and fold the fabric as shown in image 2.

The 5 identical tentacles

I sewed the others and then painted the blue dots.

Attach the tentacles to the hat

Once the tentacles were filled with polyester fibre, I've closed them with a single stitch with the sewing machine (1).

I sewed the tentacles on the inside rim of the hat (2). The central one, the largest, should be slightly above the other two. Finally, I sewed the 3 tentacles behind at the end by placing them in line with the ones in front and under them.

Headphones

My little client didn't want any ears on his costume, he didn't find them beautiful! (But it would have been easier to do !!) So I made headphones.

Just cut the number of pieces shown on the pattern. Sew the two smallest pieces on a large black circle (1). Assemble the black circles face to face (2). Sew leaving space to turn it inside out (or outside in??) (3). Fill with Polyester and close. Sew the headphones to the hat. I also added a long black piece to connect two headphones together.

The final result

Note that my little boy didn't want me to take a picture from the front "yet". He wants to save it for when he has all the parts of his costume (very cute!)

So come back in the days to come and find out how I made:

To access the Splatoon hat pattern

Check out my Facebook page to see other Splatoon costumes people made with my templates.

If you're interested to get them too, just subscribe below! I now have the SVG cut file available! And don't hesitate to also send me your pictures, I love to see them!

Natalie

Please don't forget to Pin it!

Pinterest image saying "Splatoon 2 costume Free pattern included"

Unique DIY Frame to display pictures

The $100 Room Challenge is already over and done, but I promised you a post on how to make this unique DIY frame, so, here it is! 🙂

If you missed the latest posts, I took the challenge to makeover my daughter's room in a month for less than $ 100.

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

It has been so intense that I now feel like I'm on vacation!!

The frame

Money being limited in the $100 Room Challenge, I took a frame that I already had and that might've even already seen in the post about a small DIY box to hide electronics.

At that time, the background in the frame was done using scrapbooking paper and if you paid close attention, you could see the joints of 4 sheets.

This time, I used a watercolor paper that I had for a long time and I cut a piece of the correct size to fit the frame.

How to make the background

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost for you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

You will need

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watercolor paper
Gelato Faber Castel or other watercolor pencils. 3 to 4 colors in the same hues.
A spray bottle with water
Glimmer Mist (or another kind of spray paint. The color used is "Coffee Shop." I thought it looked a bit like the color Gold Rose that was already present everywhere in the room)
Crafter's Workshop Stencil (I used the model "Eternity")
Paper towels

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To begin, I colored the watercolor paper with the Gelato.

DIY Frame hang Photos string art Pictures watercolor Instax mini stencil souvenirs cadre photographies aquarelle pochoir ficelles

Then I sprayed water and I was careful to mix the colors without crossing from one color to another.

Once everything is dry, I applied the Glimmer Mist using the stencil. The idea is not to cover the entire surface, but only a few places. And as I often say, it doesn't need to be perfect! We need to let go a little!

I also use a paper towel to prevent overflows under the stencil.

Adding the string

The string is installed above the window and is attached to the frame with a staple gun and short staples

Therefore, it's important to check the tension of the strings like this:

Pictures just like "Instax Mini"

Have you seen the price of an Instax Mini camera? And what about the film for the photos? Too expensive for me!

If you have Photoshop and a color printer, I have an economical solution for you!

I made a very easy template to use (easy enough that my daughter did it herself! Just to put a little pressure on you!!) and your only purchase, if you don't already have it, will be to buy photo quality paper.

Repeat for all 9 photos

Note: If you have less than 9 photos, I suggest you close the unused layers (click on the eye). This will prevent printing a black rectangle and waste ink.

Now you only need to print, cut and voila! You have beautiful photos for a fraction of the price! And a happy girl!

Yes, but Natalie, where's this great template?

It's in Nelidesign's Library! And how can you access it? You just have to subscribe with the link below.

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Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources!

Now you'll probably say: "Oh no, not more emails in my inbox!" But I promise you, I'm not very invasive! I'll just keep you posted when I add freebies to the library or for important events. And most of all, you'll see that there are already several other files that might interest you in the library! 🙂

The final result

If you want to see the rest of the room, don't hesitate to see the other posts:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

Till then, Please Pin it!

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

Tween's Bedroom Reveal / $100 Room Challenge / Week 4

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Final week of the $100 Room Challenge so it's time for my Tween's bedroom reveal! You'll found out everything that was done to make this room beautiful.

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Here we are already into the final week of the $100 Room Challenge. If you don't know already, it's a challenge initiated by Erin from Lemons, Lavender and Laundry where everyone has to complete the renovation of a room, in 1 month and investing a maximum of $100 (USD!) 😛

If you missed the other weeks, go take a look:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

The plan

The plan made in week 1 was to:

Change the layout of the room;
Create a smaller work area, but with an efficient and practical storage wall;
Make a reading nook near the window;
Decorate the wall above the headboard.

Looking back, I think I was in over my head!! I need to remember to not get overexcited next time (cause, of course, there will be a next time!!) and think a bit smaller. It was hard to get everything done in time, especially with a full-time job.

Change the layout of the room

Tween Girl's Bedroom Makeover | $100 Room Challenge | Turquoise | Teal | Purple | Reading nook | Desk | Bed | Headboard | DIY | Home Decor | Mauve | Chambre d'une fille pré-adolescente | Rénovation | Décor | bureau | coin lecture

The layout of the room was changed for the layout you see on the right. That way, there's less loss of space.

Before

After

Make a reading nook near the window

My first real construction! I am so proud of myself! It creates a beautiful atmosphere in my daughter's room and she loves it!

I found the blue bins in the bottom of the wardrobe. The white boxes come from IKEA. I bought them before the bench was built and I might have taken them a little bigger if I had known the size of the bench at that time. So I don't know if they will stay there. I also wanted to decorate them, but it will be for another time.

Create a smaller work area

The desk my daughter had was really big. It just made her have all sorts of things laying around. Now, with this smaller desk, I hope it stays cleaner (fingers crossed!). But it also helped to free more space in the room.

Before

After

Storage has been added to the wall above the desk and I have improved the storage of the desk. I also found the two large purple baskets in the wardrobe (too many things in there!!) I had completely forgotten that we had these !!!

The bookshelves that were above the desk are now on top of each other, next to the reading nook.

Decorate the wall above the headboard

Finally, the last project I carried out during these 4 weeks was the wall above the headboard. What was previously empty and lacking interest is now joyful and colorful.

Before

After

I already had the picture ledge from IKEA from a while back. It used to be in my dining room it the other house. Again, another thing that was never installed.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost for you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Recovering a Broken Frame

I recovered a frame that I already had and that was slightly broken. I used my super gold pink spray paint that I used in the other week's projects. I had so much for my money with this bottle, it doesn't even make sense !!

Just to have a hard time in an oh-so-simple project, I wasn't able to remove the glass so I inserted newspaper to protect the glass from the pain. A few layers later, a beautiful frame!

Quote

I created this quote myself using Photoshop and I printed it on photo quality paper. I used the English version, but I also made a French version.

If you want to get the file for printing, you just have to register here to get access to the free library, where you'll find these files and much more freebies!

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Don't miss any new freebies. Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources!

Recovering another frame

Money being limited for this challenge, I also recovered another frame. This one was not broken. You may have even seen it in the post about a burlap box to hide electronics.

Details on how I made the new background of the frame is to come. Also, note that I will have for you a free template to easily make pictures just like an Instax mini camera but for much cheaper than the original ones. Another good reason to subscribe and have access to the library!

The butterflies

These butterflies were in my daughter's room in our old house. They come from the Dollar Store so are not very expensive. Since the walls of my daughter's room are white in the current house, we have never installed the butterflies. White on white, it's not very great!

Again, comes to the rescue my super bottle of spray paint. And voilà, beautiful gold pink butterflies!

I waited until the end before installing them on the wall. I was not sure where to put them. What do you think?

Things I didn't do

My plan included some purple polka dots on the walls, but honestly, I don't really feel like they are needed.

I would have loved to decorate the white IKEA boxes

And finally, I wish I had time to spray paint the pendant lamp. There's even paint left in my bottle of gold pink spray paint! It will for sure be another post!

Cost recap:

For this week:

	CAD$ (for one)	CAD$ (total)	USD (total)	Where
4 Tjena box with lid	5,74 $	22,96 $	$18.37	IKEA
1 Frosakull frame	6,89 $	6,89 $	$5.51	IKEA
1 Fiskbo frame 5 x 7	2,86 $	2,86 $	$2.29	IKEA
2 Fiskbo frame 4 x 6	2,29 $	4,58 $	$3.66	IKEA
		37,29 $	$29.83

Other weeks:

	CAD$ (total)	USD (total)
Bench for the reading nook	56,49 $	$45.19
Lamp for the reading nook	7,25 $	$5.80
Desk area	24,72 $	$19.78

Total:

	CAD$ (total)	USD (total)
Money I have spent	125,75 $	$100.60
Money left	-0,75 $	- $0.60

Note: to be fair and to show exactly the total I have spent, all prices include taxes.

Can you forgive the 60 cents over? 😛

[ctt template="6" link="k3ab7" via="yes" ]Makeover of a tween's bedroom for 100$ in a month #100roomchallenge Wow, what a change![/ctt]

If you liked it, please don't forget to Pin it!

Don't hesitate to go check out the other weeks:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

I can't wait to see everyone's reveal. You should go take a look too! For my part, I will go sleep for a week! 😉

[inlinkz_linkup id=739664 mode=1]

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

A new desk area / $100 Room Challenge / Week 3

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Find out how to make a beautiful new desk area for a tween's bedroom, including a framed pegboard and a string art wall decor.

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Already week 3 of the $100 Room Challenge where I need to makeover one room for $100 in one month. I'm having a blast and would love to do this all day long. Maybe that's why I feel like I don't have enough time to finish everything!

This week, it was up to the desk area of my daughter's bedroom makeover.

If you want to catch up :

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

The plan

This was my plan for the desk area :

Seems easy enough, but still a lot of work. Here's what I did this week :

Cut the table top
Paint the pegboard and make the frame
Paint the shelves and brackets
Make an "E" string art
Hang everything

Paint the pegboard and make the frame

The pegboard I used is a leftover from the one I made in my craft room makeover for the One Room Challenge. Since it was already primed, I only had to paint it. Unfortunately, I had to buy white paint cause there was none left.

While I painted the pegboard, I also painted the moldings (to make the frame) and the shelves (let's try to be efficient here!!!)

Desk area makeover | girl's room | pegboard | shelves | string art | mouldings | DIY | Tutorial | panneau perforé | bureau | chambre jeune fille | tablettes | art ficelle

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost for you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Jazz up the pegboard

I decided to have a less traditional pegboard by using a Heidi Swapp's stencil (I used the Circle Lattice) that I already had in my craft room stash and blue paint leftover from painting my daughter's room two years ago.

Now, if you want to try this, you need to :

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Get a nice round sponge paint brush (It doesn't have to be round, but I find it makes it easier)
Let it go! 😉

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Yes, let it go! Don't try to make it perfect. Imperfection is much more beautiful to my taste. It adds a nice handmaid touch and personality. In fact, to be sure that the color wasn't flat, I added white on top of the blue in some places. Have a closer look :

I get all excited when it's time to take off the stencil!!! Can you see the dept the two colors make?

Next, I cut the molding I bought to make the frame. If you've been following me on Instagram, you know I badly need a miter saw!!

I then simply used fast-drying glue to fix the frame to the pegboard and made some touch-ups.

Paint the shelves and brackets

Like I said previously, I painted the shelves white while painting the pegboard.

These shelves and brackets were in my daughter's bedroom in the old house and we never came around to install them in the new one.

The brackets are the EKBY HÅLL from IKEA. I painted them with the same Rose Gold spray paint that I used for the DIY geometric pendant lamp over her reading nook. They look sooo good!

And I even painted the screws so it looks perfect!

Make an "E" string art

You can check all the details of that DIY on my previous post. It was my first time doing string art and I sure learned a lot and shared it all with you. You'll especially won't want to miss my tip on how to paint the nails.

To hang the string art, I decided to go with a sisal twine and use one of the rose gold painted nails left.

With the rope, it occupied more space so I finally decided not to make the geometric form I had intended to do in my plan above. It was supposed to be used to hang pictures on strings, but the wall was busy enough already.

And let's be honest, I was in over my head with all the projects I had planned!

Hang everything else

My hubby is way more patient than I am when it comes to hanging things straight and safely. He does try to find the studs which I have no patience for!! Sometimes, I even think he overdoes it a bit, but don't tell him! 😉

Anyway, he was so nice to hang the shelves and the pegboard while a wasn't even there (don't worry, he had directions and a "mini-me" watching him and taking all the pictures!!).

For the pegboard, you'll need some spacers that are sold especially for that purpose so the pegboard doesn't touch the wall.

The pegboard measures 16" x 48", so he used 8 spacers and screws. I still have to add a little white and blue paint to hide them better. You always think it's gonna go fast but you end up having a million little finishing touches to do that ends up taking way too long.

Materials recap for the pegboard:

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Pegboard
Pegboard hooks and accessories
Moldings
White and blue paint
Fast drying glue
Spacers and screws
Round sponge paint brush
Heidi Swapp's stencil

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Cost recap:

For this week:

	CAD$ (for one)	CAD$ (total)	USD (total)	Where
Moulding for the pegboard	6,64 $	13,28 $	$10.62	local hardware store (Canac)
White Paint	11,44 $	11,44 $	$9.15	local hardware store (Canac)
		24,72 $	$19.78

Other weeks:

	CAD$ (total)	USD (total)
Bench for the reading nook	56,49 $	$45.19
Lamp for the reading nook	7,25 $	$5.80

Total:

	CAD$ (total)	USD (total)
Money I have spent	88,46 $	$70.77
Money left	36,54 $	$29.23

So, there's still money left but less and less time. I didn't even dress up the whole desk area, but I will have it done for the reveal next week! Cross your fingers!

[ctt template="4" link="1dC4O" via="yes" ]Check out this desk area for a tween's bedroom![/ctt]

Next week: The wall above the bed and Reveal time!

Till then, remember to check out the other weeks:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

For now, Pin it so you don't forget it!

Now, let's see what my friends have accomplished for the third week :

[inlinkz_linkup id=738657 mode=1]

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

DIY String Art for a girl's bedroom

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The popularity of DIY string art is back. You'll find here all the steps you need to know to make this beautiful string art. And most of all, you'll discover an advice you absolutely want to know and that I learned at my expense.

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Every month a group of bloggers are challenged by C'mon Get Crafty to create a new craft or project from their own stash of goodies!

For my part, I decided to use these items from my stash :

String Art Letter Initial | DIY | Teal | Easy craft for kids | Farmhouse | Vintage | Tutorial | Home Decor | Pattern | Corde | Inspiration | Initiale — [:en]Stash of wood[:fr]Réserve de bois

If one challenge is good, why not make two! That's right, this piece of art is going to be installed in my daughter's bedroom that is getting a makeover this month as part of the $100 Room Challenge hosted by Erin from Lemons, Lavender and Laundry.

If you want to catch up, see the recap here :

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

So, my daughter's name is Éliane and she wanted an "E" for her bedroom. Here's how we made the E string art.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

What you'll need for the DIY string art:

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Embroidery Floss (Amazon has very good prices on these!)
Wood (I used pallet wood)
Nails
Hammer
Kreg Jig (I have the K5)
Screws
Paint

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Make the DIY string art frame:

I had to find a reason to use my Kreg Jig again. It was sooo easy when I made the bench for the reading nook last week. The advantage of using the Kreg jig for this it's that you don't need to use another board behind to fix the four boards together.

I only had to make 2 pocket holes on 3 of the 4 boards as you can see below.

Then, screw the boards together and voilà!

I then added a bit of white paint. I wanted it to look like old wood so kept the roughness of the boards.

Make the DIY String Art

I went in Photoshop and printed an "E" the right size to fit the board (I had to print it on 2 letter size paper) and fixed it on the board with a couple of pieces of scotch tape.

As you can see, I adjusted the letter and made it a bit thicker.

Then, you hammer your nails. I didn't measure the spaces between the nails. I just eyed it. 😉 Also, if you're right-handed like me, it's easier to start from right to left.

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Advice time!!!

If you want to paint your nails like me (wich is totally optionnal) don't do it like that :

Or you'll end up turning and turning your nails to get them all painted and finally you'll do this and feel very crazy :

You should really do this instead :

I don't know why I didn't think about it sooner! 😛

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The string part

Once your nails are all there, you just need to tear off the paper

After that, it's the fun part and my daughter was really happy to do it (she did let me try it a bit when I made my sad face!!)

Remember to follow this week to see this beauty in the desk corner that I'm making for my daughter as part of the $100 Room Challenge.

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

If you prefer, I found these kits that can be excellent for a gift:

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Now, check out some awesome creations you might be able to make from your own stash! #CraftRoomDestashChallenge

[ctt template="4" link="c8S90" via="yes" ]What crafty creations could you make today from YOUR craft stash? #CraftRoomDestashChallenge[/ctt]

If you'd like to join in the Craft Room De-Stash Challenge, you can request to join our Facebook group here!

INLINKZ:

An InLinkz Link-up

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See at which Link Party I like to participate here

Turn your Spring wreath into a Fall wreath for 1$

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Save money by transforming your spring wreath into a fall wreath. The trick is simple and items are available in your own backyard.

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This month, I'm happy to be participating in the "We are Pinnable Blog Hop". The theme is "Celebrating fall" and it means everyone's post will be on this theme. It also means you'll then be able to see what my blogger friends have posted on the same topic!

In the spring, I created a wreath for my front door. Do you remember? It had cost me less than 15 $ and I had completed it in less than 15 minutes.

I didn't use any glue. My goal was to reuse the grapevine wreath and change it with each season. Autumn is upon us (although the temperature got to 25ºC (77 ºF) this week!) and I've managed a transformation for only 1$.

How did I do that? Well, taking advantage of the field in the back of my home and shrubs around my house!

No need to go to the Dollar Store to buy pine cones, I have them directly below my balcony. Looking for cattails? find a ditch along a road and you'll find plenty.

I only bought a couple of flowers (for 1$) to make a few colors stand out in this beautiful wreath.

Again, nothing is glued!

How to do it :

Insert the smaller flowers first. I had a bunch of little seed fall off. The vacuum was needed!!

I added the biggest herbs and finally cattails. Note that an odd number is always preferable.

I inserted the purchased flowers for a touch of color and tied it off with a rope I had on hand.

For pine cones, simply insert a rope in the last row and turn the rope around. They are then easy to attach to the wreath.

Fall Wreath | Autumn | DIY | Flowers | Tutorials | Home decor | Couronne d'automne | Pine cone | Cocotte | Quenouilles

And now, a beautiful bouquet!

My door is now ready for fall. And for only 1 $.

Note: if you look closely, you'll see in the reflection of the door that it's not the same season at all!!!

Remember to pin it for later!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost for you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

You live in a place where nothing grows that feels like fall?

See my suggestions for you:

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We are Pinnable Blog Hop

Now let's see what my blogger friends have posted about with the "Celebrate Fall" theme:

Autumn Apothecary Jars for Free - from Sum of Their Stories

Celebrating Fall - with Centsably Creative

Fall Apple Recipes - with Chickery Travels

10 Things I Love for Fall - from Sassy Townhouse Living

Celebrate Fall with Pumpkin Arrangements and Apple Cream Tarts - by Of Faeries & Fauna Craft Co.

10 Low Cost Activities for Fall - by SnapshotsandSnippets

Celebrate Fall with a Free Cookbook - by Ask Dr. Ho

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

Reading nook / $100 Room Challenge / Week 2

[wc_box color="inverse" text_align="left" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" class=""]For the second week of the $100 Room Challenge, find out how to make a DIY Farmhouse style bench to make a cozy reading nook.[/wc_box]

So here we are, the second week of the $100 Room Challenge. What a week!

As you may have read in the first week's post, I had planned to make the reading nook with a beautiful bench and a lamp. Well, I succeeded !! At least, for the majority of it! I still have the curtains to shorten. I decided to keep them for the last week, so you have a surprise for the reveal! (it's mostly because I didn't have time, but don't tell anyone!) You can see the lamp here as well as a recap:

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

A first

Aside from a birdhouse and a few other projects in high school, this is the first time I've built something so big by myself! It was so easy and fun that it's not the last time for sure!

I must admit I got some help. My husband came to buy the wood with me which earned me a ride on the back seat:

And he also cut the pieces of wood, because we are really badly equipped. With only a circular saw, you need to be two people to handle the cuts (not to mention that it is way too heavy for little me!). With a mitre saw, I would have done it all alone !! So guess what I'm asking for Christmas? 😛

Ok, enough jokes! Let's talk about serious things!

Building a bench for the reading nook

The bench I decided to create is inspired by a model made by Shanty 2 Chic. You must seriously go see their video. These girls are just awesome!

I needed to make some modifications because the bench is placed in front of a window where there is an electric baseboard and I wanted to let the heating circulate.

Here's the model that I made:

I used SketchUp to make the plan (as well as those of week 1). It allowed me to calculate the cuts I had to make, have less leftover and avoid many mistakes! Each size is illustrated in a different colour to help me sort them out. I hope you did not think it was the colour I wanted to paint the bench!!!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost for you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

What you'll need:

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4 - 2 "x 6" x 8 '
4 - 2 "x 4" x 8 '
Kreg Jig (for pocket holes- I have the K5 model)
2-½" pocket holes screws
Paint or dye of your choice
Polycrylic (for the finish - I took the "satin" version)

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I have to take a short break to talk to you about the " Kreg Jig ". Seriously, I have never used a tool as well thought out and so easy to use! (and I'm not even sponsored to tell you that!!!)

If you want to build furniture or even small objects, in my opinion, this is the investment to make (ok, that and a mitre saw!) In addition, when you receive your Kreg Jig, you have a link to videos that show you how it works. Within 5 minutes you are ready to start !!!

How to make the bench

I'll explain to you generally how I made it and invite you to watch the video of Shanty 2 Chic for more details.

First, "I" (thanks, Honey!) Cut all the pieces and identified them (you don't want to end up with a longer leg than the others !!).

Then, armed with my classy glasses and my Kreg Jig, I made all the pocket holes.

This is seriously very easy to do and quick to use.

DIY Window Bench | Reading Nook | Girl's Bedroom | Tutorial | Farmhouse | Wood | Whitewash | Banc fenêtre | Chambre de fille | Coin lecture | Instructions

Then it was time for the assembly. I did it right in my daughter's room because I was afraid I'd have trouble getting the bench through the door because of its length!

Afterwards, I assemble the 2 "x 6" which serve for the top of the bench.

And finally, I brought it all together! Come on, you can say it: "Wow, nice socks Natalie" and my daughter could answer you: "These are my socks that I gave to my mother because they are now too small for me!" And yes, that's where we are right now and she's just 11 years old!!!

And the almost final result:

Painting the reading nook bench

It's still the $100 Room Challenge so I used paint leftovers from my daughter's room. There wasn't a lot of white paint left, but since I wanted to do a wash, I added as much water directly to the paint and had enough.

I started applying some stain with blue paint also diluted with water and wiping right after. Then I painted the whitewash with a brush and by wiping lightly. I put two layers that way and lightly sanded to give a slightly worn look. Finally, I applied the Polycrylic as directed on the container.

It was the first time I used this product and I really liked it. It is very easy to apply and dries quickly. It gives a nice soft finish. I applied two layers and I don't even think I used the 1/16 of the container! Many other projects to be done with it !!! 😉

I have a little secret for you: do you think I painted underneath the bench? No way! My blog is not called "Projects for a busy life" for nothing !!!

And here's the real end result. You can see here how I made the geometric pendant lamp.

Budget

I told you that I would make the conversion from $100 USD into 125$ CAD, so here is how my budget is doing:

Bench :

	CAD $ (for one)	CAD$ (total)	USD (total)	Where
4- 2" x 4" x 96"	$3.66	$14.64	$11.71	Home Depot
4- 2" x 6" x 96"	$5.79	$23.16	$18.53	Home Depot
Minwax Polycrylic	$18.69	$18.69	$14.95	local hardware store (Canac)
		$56.49	$45.19

Lamp :

	CAD $ (for one)	CAD$ (total)	USD (total)	Where
Dowel ¼" x 48"	$0.94	$0.94	$0.75	Home Depot
Spray Paint	$6.31	$6.31	$5.05	Michael's (with 50% coupon)
		$7.25	$5.80

So in total, I have about half of my budget spent, but it should slow down from now on!

This week, I'm working on the desk corner! Be sure to join me next week!

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

You can also subscribe, so you don't miss anything and get access to exclusive freebies!

Please Pin it so you don't forget it for later!

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

Now let's see what my friends did this week:

[inlinkz_linkup id=736975 mode=1]

Make an affordable geometric pendant light

[wc_box color="inverse" text_align="left" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" class=""]Learn how to make an affordable geometric pendant light that will have a big impact in your room. Believe it or not, it's not made of metal![/wc_box]

As part of the $100 Room Challenge, I'm renovating my daughter's room. I've got into a big project, but I'm very motivated and so is my daughter! 🙂

I decided to create a reading nook near the window, the details will be unveiled this Wednesday in the post of the 2nd week. For now, I'll show you how to make this small geometric lamp that will serve to light the reading nook. You still have to see your book when you read!!!

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

The idea came to me when my daughter showed me a SeaLemon video. Are you familiar with her? She's really great. It has great DIY videos perfect for tweens! In her video, she shows how to make geometric gems. I then used her technic to create this lamp shade.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost for you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

What you'll need:

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Cord set (mine is the Hemma cord set from IKEA. I originally bought it for my craft room makeover but ended up using IKEA's new Ranarp lamp instead.)
3 dowels ¼" x 48"
Spray paint (I used Krylon ColorMaster in Rose Gold and the only store I found it was at Michael's)
Glue gun and glue sticks
Cutting knife

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How to make it:

First, cut the dowels:

12 pieces of 2-½"
6 pieces of 3-¾"
6 pieces of 1-⅛"
6 pieces of 7-¾"

I simply used the cutting knife to cut the dowels. Just apply the cutting knife and roll the dowel.

Note that SeaLemon cuts the dowels with a dog's nail clipper! If you have a dog, do not hesitate to use it! In my case, there was no way I would add that to my budget of $100 Room Challenge !!

Dowels assembly

This drawing allows you to see where each dowel goes :

I started by assembling the 3 hexagons.

Next, I added the vertical pieces.

It's certainly easier if you have someone to help you, but you can still do it by yourself.

(Yes, I'm really working on the floor! It really is worth it to make yourself a big craft table!!)

Then, once the assembly is complete, add hot glue to the joints to solidify the structure and to make a better finish when painting.

Painting

Then, it's time to paint. Not to lose time, I've also painted immediately the butterflies which I will post about later! 😛

I also painted the end of the electric cord by taking care to wrap the wire in a plastic bag. I wanted the lamp and the lamp shade to look like a whole and not two pieces put together. Does what I'm saying make sense?? Whoa, It's been a long week !!! 😛

Installation of the geometric pendant light

The new lamp shade is inserted between the two parts of the electric cord. If you do not use the same cord set, it will be important to adapt the size of the hexagon at the top.

Geometric pendant light | DIY | Dowels lampshade | cheap, easy and affordable | Tutorial | instructions | $100 Room Challenge | Lampe suspendue géométrique | abat-jour | facile, pas cher | Coin lecture | Reading Nook |

Final result

Finally, I am very happy with the result and I think I just fell in love with the colour "Rose Gold". There will surely be other elements of this colour in the room!

The lamp is also very beautiful once turned on! Could this be a glimpse of a bench that can be seen at the bottom of the picture? 😉 To be continued with the next post about the 2nd week!

Recap :

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

If you like it, don't forget to Pin it for later!

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

$100 Room Challenge : Tween's bedroom makeover / Week 1

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For the $100 Room Challenge, see the transformation of a tween's bedroom with the addition of a reading nook, a nice desk area, and a beautiful headboard and much more!

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This is my second time in the $100 Room Challenge. This is a challenge initiated by Erin from Lemons, Lavender and Laundry where everyone has to complete the renovation of a room, in 1 month and investing a maximum of $100.

Note here that $100 is written with a dollar sign in front of the 100. 😛 Which means that for me, the poor Canadian girl, it will be 125 $ !! I could always try to make it with 100 $ CAD, but the experience of the last challenge, when I updated my bathroom, showed that I didn't have too much money by making the conversion !!!

If you want to skip ahead :

Week 1| Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

My daughter's room

We moved into this house 2 years ago and I never completely finished her room. You surely know how you can easily be overwhelmed by the events when you move into a new house!!

My daughter still loves the colours of her room and wants to keep her bedspread.

Here is the existing layout of the furniture in the room.

The identified problems

The headboard lacks interest and is missing a focal point. I've been wanting to fix it for a long time, but never got to it. And what about the pendant lamp ... I'll have to see if I have time and budget left!

Her desk is huge, but that doesn't mean there's room on it. Looks like the more space we have, the more piles we make !!

There is organizing to do, that's for sure. Particularly in all these small storage cubes.

And what about this corner? Another good place to stack piles!!

Lots of organizing to do!

I think this is the most organized corner!!!

Objectives

After looking at different possibilities, I opted for this room layout:

With this layout, I'll be able to:

Create a smaller work area, but with an efficient and practical storage wall;

Make a reading nook near the window;

Decorate the wall above the headboard.

Planning

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Week 1: Organizing, decluttering, rearranging furniture (cutting the work table) and beginning construction of the reading nook;
Week 2: Complete the construction of the corner nook and painting;
Week 3: Make the office corner and the wall above the headboard;
Week 4: Reveal!

There will probably be plenty of small projects published along the way that will serve as storage and decoration in the room. This will be a busy month (especially if you've seen my "About me" page, you know I also have a full-time job!)

Week 1| Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

If you like it, don't forget to Pin it and follow along for the rest of the month!

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

Let's see what my friends are working on this month:

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How to organize your DVDs and Blu-Rays

Lately, I showed you the solution I found to keep DVDs and Blu-ray while saving a ton of space.

Once it was done, I had to find how to classify them. As my DVDs are in a drawer under my TV, I needed something I could see from the top.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

I found these tabs that are angled. They are just perfect. I used white cardstock that I already had to do the separators. As I thought it was missing a bit of colour, I added some washi tape to the card stock to make it a bit more cheerful.

Check out the other solution I found by using my Cricut to make fun and cut tab dividers.

What you need:

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Washi tape
tabs
White card stock (ideally legal size to avoid losses)
Permanent black pen

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I mixed the colors of tabs with these colors of washi tape.

I cut the cardstock 6 " high by 7-1 / 2" wide. This is why the legal size card stock is better than the letter size.

I then applied a strip of washi tape to the top of the card stock. It's this part that we'll see.

Organize your DVDs and Blu-rays

I sorted the DVDs alphabetically. It allowed me to see which "letters" I had the most and how to divide them.

Here's the final result

In the rest of the drawer, I placed the DVDs that I wanted to keep in their original box.

Special editions, collector boxes ... all excuses are good you'll say! 😉 But it's difficult to cut them to make them fit in the pockets. It's like a therapy for me: I need to go step by step! 😛

Finally, I like my tabs and pockets. It's very easy to search and find the DVDs.

For now, I've used only the pink tabs (almost). That's because I keep the other colors for the rest of the DVD / Blu-ray. Yes, I still have a whole box to organize! But it's summer and I try to enjoy the nice weather instead, while it lasts! Who can blame me?

See at which Link Party I like to participate here

How to easily transform a dining room pendant light

[wc_box color="inverse" text_align="center" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" class=""]Dining room lighting is necessary but they usually cost a lot. Transforming a dining room pendant light you already own is a good way to save a lot of money.[/wc_box]

When we moved into our house, there was not only the outside that was yellow, all the walls and ceilings were yellow as well. We repainted the whole house and it was worth it!

For the dining room, I had a serious distaste for the light above the table. It also looked "yellowed" by time. But it was its original colour!

I wanted to change it, but a beautiful pendant light cost so much money!

So, here's the easy and cheap solution I found:

It looks so much better don't you think? Oufff!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

Here's what you need:

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Bamboo roll up blinds (mine measured 48 inches. Take the one with flat slats)
Quick dry wood glue
Clothespins
Chandelier type bulb

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How to do it:

Disassemble the blind and remove the slats.

Assemble two slats together with the wood glue to form a large circle. Use the clothespins to hold the pieces together until the glue dries.

Once you have made at least 3 circles, you can begin to assemble them. Ideally, it should be done directly on the pendant light, like this:

To suspend the shape temporarily, use a piece of bamboo passed through the chain.

When you are certain of the height at which you want to install the sphere, use one of the bamboos and pass it in the chain instead of the temporary piece. Complete the circle and fix it to the others. Continue adding circles until you are satisfied. Do not forget to glue them to each other by holding them with clothespins until the glue is dry.

** Important: Keep in mind that the openings must remain large enough to insert your hand in order to change the bulbs !!!

I also painted the plastic base which was too pale for my taste. I simply used acrylic paint. Honestly, it's not perfect, but no one has ever noticed !!!

I really love the final result and it gives nice lighting.

Do you also have a pendant light that you would love to change?

If you like this idea, don't forget to Pin it for later!

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Click here to see which Link Party I participate.

Pikachu Party bags

Have kids that love Pokemon? Want an easy and affordable solution to make them happy on their birthday? Make these Pikachu Party bags.

For the big boy's birthday, he wanted a Pokémon theme. I was all excited and tried not to get overwhelmed (which I often do!!) because I was really limited in time.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

How to make the Pikachu party bags

I bought these yellow bags at the Dollar store.

You can find similar ones right here if you don't have a dollar store near you.

I got my Cricut Maker out, took an image from the Internet and created a Pikachu print and cut file (please be vigilant about downloading files from the Internet. See this article here).

You can also make it with any Cricut from the Explore family.

Easy, fast and original! No one will be able to resist these Pikachu party bags!

If you would like to do the same and want to know more about the Print and Cut method, check out this video:

Do you know that NeliDesign has a YouTube channel? Check it out right here!

And last but not least, don't forget to Pin it for later!

Pinterest image saying "Make these pikachu party favor bags + free cut file"

Easy upgrade of a door hook

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I will show you how to easily upgrade a door hook in a couple of minutes so that it has a beautiful look to match your wreath!

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Want to upgrade your dollar store door hook and give it a little rustic look? Let's face it, it does the job so why pay for a fancier one?

Door hook | Rustic | Jute twine | Dollar store | Easy Spring Wreath | Flowers | Home Decor | Front Porch | Front door | DIY | tutorial

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost for you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

This is easy peasy! You'll need:

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How to upgrade the door hook:

Add the hot glue as you go and don't put any twine at the top of the hook, on the part that will be squeezed between the door and the frame.

And voilà! This is way better don't you think?

Even better on the door with my DIY wreath! Pssst, follow this link if you want to know how to make this no glue wreath for less than 15$.

Want to keep this idea for later? Then don't hesitate to Pin it!

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Don't miss any new freebies. Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources and the newsletter.

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Click here to see which Link Party I participate.

How to hide an ugly heater in a bathroom

[wc_box color="inverse" text_align="center" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" class=""] What to do when you want to hide an ugly heater in your bathroom? You can DIY this easy ladder that can also be used to store your towels. [/wc_box]

This was the final result of one of the projects I made back in March during the $100 Room Challenge hosted by Erin at Lemons Lavander & Laundry. I didn't have time to post it since then. Yep, a busy life you say! So here's how I made this ladder to hide the ugly heater!

My bathroom has a heater that I can turn on or off. I mean it doesn't go on unless I turn it on. Practical, but ugly. And my previous towel rack was just not doing the trick.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost for you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

What you need

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1" x 3" x 8' wood plank (2 times)
2 round dowel ⅞" x 48"
Water-based wood stain from Saman

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You can see the complete detail of the cost of the project in Week 5 of the $100 Room Challenge

How to do it

I started by doing a little sketch of what I was looking for. Graph paper was the best thing to get a proportional drawing of what I wanted to do.

Then I measured where I wanted the dowel to be. At that time, I didn't realize I was going to stain in black!!! So, note to yourself, stain and then measure!!

I stained the 1" x 3" in a black water-based wood stain from Saman and used a colour that was similar to all the other wood in my bathroom for the dowels.

Once everything was dry, it was time to assemble. I (meaning my nice husband!) fixed the dowels with the sides only using nails and hammer. I know it would have been a lot faster and more effective to use a nail gun, but it was in the shed and the shed door was buried behind a lot of snow and ice!!!

So in the end, I have a nice ladder for the towels in my bathroom and you cannot see the ugly heater anymore!

If you'd like to catch up on all the projects I did during the last $100 Room Challenge, just follow these links :

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5

And don't forget to Pin it for later!

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Don't miss any new freebies. Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources!

See where I link up here

Craft room reveal / ORC Week 6

[wc_box color="inverse" text_align="center" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" class=""] See my craft room reveal as part of the One Room Challenge where you need to makeover one room in only 6 weeks. [/wc_box]

It's reveal time! Can I say finally? Not that it was long, on the contrary, it went by sooo fast! But I'm so tired! Between a full-time job and some dance competitions, I thought I'd never finish in time!

Craft room makeover | Craft room organization | pegboard | wine crates shelves | IKEA desk | DIY | Home Decor | Tutorial

For the One Room Challenge, hosted by Calling it Home, I'm giving my craft room a makeover. Or more accurately, I'm making a craft room that can be called a craft room!

Hide a pipe | pegboard in craftroom | how to hang a pegboard | DIY | Hooks on pegboards

I didn't get to do everything I though, but the room looks so much better than it did! Let's see a recap of the 6 weeks challenge:

Week 1: The planning (I'm kinda realizing now that I have trouble planning way ahead, the inspiration sort of comes along the way!!!)
Week 2: Upgrade of a shelf unit with old book pages
Week 3: The new desk
Bonus: Upholstered stool
Week 4: Floating shelves with Osoyoos Larose's wine crates
Week 5: The pegboard

Craft room reveal in details

I wish I had time to do hide completely the pipe over the pegboard.

I had previously made my craft table with a masonite door and an IKEA shelf unit. You can see the complete tutorial here

During week 2, I upgraded the shelf unit that was already there when we moved in by simply adding old books pages.

I finally received the IKEA Ranarp lamp I ordered and cannot be happier about it!

Also got the new Ranarp Ceiling track. Going from one single light to these 3 made an enormous change. I can finally see what I'm doing!!!

For week 3, I got a new desk also from IKEA and made this awesome pegboard during week 5 to hide the pipe.

Once the pegboard was done, we fixed the old IKEA CD/DVD Billy shelf unit on both sides. I then made reorganization on them! I now have so much space!

Between week 3 and 4, I decided that I needed to make these stools more comfortable. I need to be honest with you, I still have one out of the two stool to upholster!

And finally, during week 4 I used wine crates from our favorite Canadian wine to make floating shelves.

For sure, a lot of projects for a busy life will see the day in this space!

Before and After

Remember what the room looked like before? This is my favourite part!
I don't even need to write which one is before and which is after!!

Can you believe how much the room has changed? Crazy right? Hopefully, I can keep it clean like that for a little while!! 😛

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PS : Don't forget to Pin it to save it for later!

Check out the before and after of my craft room makeover. Full of IKEA hacks and organization tips and tricks. Get a space you love for your DIY #craftroom #organization

Craft room makeover | Craft room organization | pegboard | wine crates shelves | IKEA desk | DIY | Home Decor | Tutorial #oneroomchallenge #craftroom #pegboard #organization #shelves #winecrates

How to hide an ugly pipe using pegboard / One Room Challenge Week 5

Remember week 1 of the One Room Challenge? One of my objectives was to install a pegboard to hide that ugly pipe.

Well, I did it (I mean, we did it because I couldn't have done it alone! Thanks, honey 😊)

For the One Room Challenge, hosted by Calling it Home, I'm giving my craft room a makeover. Or more accurately, I'm making a craft room that can be called a craft room! You can see the recaps here:

How to install the pegboard

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost for you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

What you need

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2 x 3 studs
Screws
Wall anchors
Pegboard
Pegboard hooks and accessories
Spacers

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So first, I bought 2- 2x3. They were the same depth as the pipe. We installed the 2x3 using screws. We also used wall anchors when the 2x3 were not aligned with the wall studs.

Then we cut the pegboard to the size we needed. We also used spacers to make sure the 2x3 didn't block any holes of the pegboard.

Once installed, we fixed the Billy CD/DVD shelf unit that we had for sooo long on both sides. But the pictures for that will be for the reveal week only! 😉

Now, here's a sneak peek at what the pegboard looks like. Can you believe I have too much space?

Any suggestions on what I could hang on my new pegboard?

Please Pin it if you don't want to forget it!

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Wine crates Floating shelves / One Room Challenge Week 4

What better than wine crates for cheap inexpensive and easy shelves. Especially that this room is also the place where we keep the bottles of wine 😊

I have done shelves with wine crates before in my dining room but I had never painted them.

For the One Room Challenge, hosted by Calling it Home, I'm giving my craft room a makeover. Or more accurately, I'm making a craft room that can be called a craft room! You can see the recaps here:

Where to get the wine crates

Here in Quebec, we can get wine crates where wine is sold (SAQ). They usually sell the crates for 5$ and give the money to a foundation. So it's a good deal for everyone!

Remove the stickers

The wine crates always have a bunch of stickers on them. See my previous post on wine crates shelves to know how to remove them easily.

Sanding

I did a light sanding to get a smooth surface. Here's a closeup on our favorite Canadian wine

Paint and varnish

I painted the inside without touching the border. I didn't use a primer (no time for that!!) but did two coats of paint and it was enough. For the outside, I used a clear varnish and also did two coats with light sanding between them.

Installing

Drill holes in the top corners of the wine crates

With a screw, we tested the wall where we wanted to install the crate to see if there was wood behind.

No luck for us, we had to use wall anchors.

It is pretty hard to take pictures of something in front of a window, but I'm really happy with the look of it in real life!

These three statues were made in a workshop with the kids a couple of years ago, I really love them there!!

This week, I also upholstered a square stool for my craft room

If you missed it, be sure to check it out here!

Once again, the recap:

If you like it, Pin it for later!

See where I link up here

How to upholster a square stool

In my craft room, I have the most un-com-fer-ta-ble stool ever made. I keep hurting myself on the corners. So decided to soften everything up 😉

DIY | Stool | square | cover | fabric | dark blue | comfortable | easy | tutorial

For the One Room Challenge, I'm giving some love (and hard work) to my craft room. You can see recap of the past weeks here

Upholster what? Up-hols-ter!! Yeah, lucky for me, I only have to write it and not pronounce it! You would love my french accent right now!!! 😏

Here what you need to cover with foam and fabric this stool :

100% polyester fabric (I had plenty for 2 stools with ½ meter)
batting
foam
staple gun
staples

Note that when I opened the bag of batting, it was not really what I though it would be. The lady in the store sold me Polyester fiberfill and told me it would do (Note to myself : never trust the lady in the store, trust your instinct!)

Since I didn't want to go all the way back, I made with it!! It wasn't that bad. It was a bit more fluffy!

How to do it :

Cut the foam to the exact size of the stool
I double the "wannabe batting" to make it thicker.

Staple it all around

Measure the fabric so it fits when you fold it.

Since you're gonna fold it just like that, it doesn't matter if it a little bit bigger, you'll just fold more.

I started by the two long sides.

Once they were done, I flipped it over to make sure it was straight (the fabric I chose was not the easiest one to cover a square stool. I hat to make sure the lines were parallel to the stool.

For the corners, I didn't do anything fancy, just continued folding. Remember I wanted them soft, no hard corners!

The finished project :

I'm quite happy about it and so is my behind! 😯

If you want to follow along, don't forget to see the other posts of the One Room Challenge

And if you don't want to miss anything make sure you subscribe! You'll also get access to a free resources library that will be continuously updated

Till then, if you like it, please Pin it!

See where I link up here

DIY Bowling Birthday Invitations

Get a free template to make DIY Bowling birthday invitations for your kid's birthday party. They are easy to make and affordable.

For his birthday, my son wanted to go bowling with his friends so we made these birthday invitations!

bowling pin and ball invitation made of cardstock

Update: Now I also made a customizable SVG cut file! Follow the link to see a tutorial on how to upload and customize the free bowling invitation cut file.

Since these bowling invitations, I've made other party printables:

This project is pretty easy to do, just follow these simple instructions. This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience and at no extra cost to you. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

What you'll need for the DIY bowling birthday invitations

Free template available in my resource library. You can subscribe at the end of this post!
White cardstock (8" x 11" - 110lb)
Small pieces of black and red cardstock (time to use your leftover pieces!!)
Other colours of cardstock (for the bowling ball. You can even make each invitation a different colour!)
Brads (and/or ribbons)
Black and white Printer

bowling pin and ball invitation made in cardstock

How to make the DIY bowling birthday invitations

You just need to print and cut. In this example, I really cut and glued the black circles and redline, but you can easily colour them on there.

Bonus

Bonus for you! Today, I've upgraded the template I made before and offering it to you for free.

I now have this project's free EDITABLE template just for you and an SVG cut file! All you need is to subscribe below to have access to it and a lot more freebies!

You can now write and print whatever you want. It's really easy!

I have a 9-year-old girl who decided to use my template for her birthday party. She wanted to write it all by herself. Good job Marilie!

DIY Bowling birthdayt invitations | DIY, free printable, for kids #birthdayparty #bowling #invitations # diy

So if you want to do just like her: print a blank template and write the information with your best pen!

I really love to see what people do with my template! If you would like to have a picture of your work on my Facebook page, don't hesitate to send it to me!

And here are some other products I found for your party:

And if you liked it, don't forget to Pin it!

Pinterest image saying "DIY bowling birthday invitation with free editable template"

Thanks!

Craft room makeover / One Room Challenge - Week 3

See what I did for week 3 of my craftroom makeover for the One room challenge. It involves some new purchase items straight from IKEA.

Here we are half way already! This week was all about purging... and splurging! 😋

So there was no DIY this week, but an online order to IKEA! Decided that I deserved a new desk instead of this old folding table.

One Room Challenge | Craft room | light fixture | IKEA desk | blue | RANARP

I thought of painting it first, but the truth is that this table is not convenient at all. It's impossible to get the chair to slide under the table because of the depth of the border. Plus, the legs have a 45 degrees angle that limits what you can slide under.

So enough excuses, here's my new table with mooooore drawers! 😊

Here is exactly what I bought :

LINNMON table top 59 x 29-½ " black-blue (oh yes!!!)
2 GODVIN legs
ALEX drawer unit 14 ⅛ x 27 ½ "

I just love the dark blue 😀

I also bought the new RANARP ceiling track. It's not installed yet cause, for once, it was not raining (or snowing!!) and we had to take down the winter garage while Mother nature gave us the chance!!!

Its purpose is to replace this light bulb that is definitely not enough at all for this room!

And finally, got the RANARP wall spotlight

My intention is to put it right there to get a nice lighted surface :

One Room Challenge | Craft room | light fixture | IKEA desk | blue

But IKEA did a mistake when sending my order and I got bright green pillow covers instead!!! I finally sorted everything out with customer service and will probably get my lamp by next Thursday.

That's all for week 3. Have a lot planned for next week! Don't forget to come back

See where I link up here

« Previous Page

The initial plan

Master Bedroom Makeover

The plan for the Master Bedroom Makeover

In details, I plan on:

If I have the budget and time, I might add:

So in your opinion, what accent colour should I add to my Master Bedroom Makeover?

Don't forget to pin it for later:

Don't miss the rest of the $100 Room Challenge and any new freebies. Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources and updates!

Go check out what the other participants of the $100 Room Challenge are doing:

Sometimes, transparent cabinet bumpers melt. Discover a simple trick to remove sticky bumpers from cabinet doors.

Required materials and tools

What it takes to remove sticky bumpers from cabinet doors

Please Pin it so you don't forget it!

How to make an outdoor privacy screen

Required materials

How to make the outdoor privacy screen

Don't miss the next post and all the freebies, subscribe below!

PS: Please Pin it, so you don't forget it!

How to hide an electrical panel seems an easy enough task, but the usual solutions are not always the most creative and aesthetic ones. See how I hid the one that was located directly next to the television.

Before

The plan

Materials

How to hide an electrical panel

2 for 1

Today

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What I used to make a wreath with terracotta pots

How to make the wreath

First, the terracotta pots

Second, assemble the wreath

And finally, the result!

Don't miss any new freebie and get access to a library full of resources.

If you like it, don't forget to Pin it!

Learn how to make DIY magnets and magnetic gaming time chart that no one can guess it's a cookie sheet. It will even be a nice wall art for a boy's room!

How to cover the bottom of the magnetic gaming time chart

Required materials

DIY Magnets for the magnetic gaming time chart

Required material

Assembling the magnets

If you do not want to invest in resin ...

How to hang the magnetic gaming time chart

We've seen plenty of magnetic boards made with a cookie sheet. But what if you don't want to hang that on your wall? Well, I offer you a simple tutorial to show you how to make a beautiful frame to hide the cookie sheet. It's easy and very affordable!

Make a frame for a cookie sheet

What you need

How to make the frame for a cookie sheet

Decorate the frame

In the next post

LET ME HELP YOU CREATE WITH CONFIDENCE

Spring Wreath in 15 minutes

Base with an embroidery hoop

Looking for something more challenging?

How to hang your wreath

Don't want to miss any new freebies and get access to a free library full of resources?

Don't forget to Pin it for later!

Learn how to use freezer paper to make a stencil that allows you to paint on fabric virtually without any smudges.

Where to buy Freezer paper?

For this project, you'll need:

How to make the stencil

Cut the stencil

Position the stencil

Paint

PS: Don't miss any new freebies! Subscribe to get access to the library full of resources

Don't forget to Pin it for later!

Long floating shelves

The plan

Requires materials

Tools required

Steps to follow and not to follow!

Anchors

The shelves

What I should have done instead

Lessons learned:

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PS: Please Pin it for later!

Other Pokemon stuff from NeliDesign

Where to get it?

Plus, I have a Pokemon April's Fools day Cootie-Catcher! Subscribe to get all the Pokemon files!

LET ME HELP YOU CREATE WITH CONFIDENCE

How to fold a cootie-catcher?

Other Pokemon Valentine items